News Release

SAINT JOHN (GNB) – The federal and provincial governments are providing $314,775 to ArtsLink NB to support entrepreneurship and growth within the arts community.

“Artists tell the story of New Brunswick to the world and contribute to a strong local economy,” said Tourism, Heritage and Culture Minister Tammy Scott-Wallace. “We are pleased to support the valuable work of ArtsLinkNB in helping artists gain the skills and connections they need to be successful.”

The provincial government is contributing $161,870 while the federal government is investing $152,905 to support ArtsLinkNB in delivering its Catapult Arts Accelerator program. The program provides intensive business training to creative entrepreneurs with the objective of helping them bring their work to market.

“New Brunswick artists are great contributors to our rich culture; our quality of life and our province’s economy and we are pleased to support initiatives that help them succeed as entrepreneurs,” said Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Trevor Holder. “Ensuring they are provided with training support is crucial for growing their passion into a successful business.”

The funding has also helped ArtsLink NB hold the Atlantic Art Symposium, a three-day multi-disciplinary conference for artists and arts professionals, in Saint John in October 2022.

“I am thrilled to see the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency supporting organizations like ArtsLink NB that play a key role in growing the region’s arts sector,” said Saint John-Rothesay MP Wayne Long. ‟By providing our artists with the training and tools they need to build sustainable careers, we are helping to build a strong, competitive local economy here in New Brunswick.”

Long attended the event for Official Languages Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor, who is also minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

“ArtsLink was founded in 2009 as a resource organization for arts professionals in New Brunswick,” said executive director Julie Whitenect. “Part of that work was to contextualize for government, the public, and the arts sector itself the value that arts and culture bring to the province's health and vibrancy, and the contributions of arts and culture to economic growth. Receiving support from several different departments and levels of government speaks to the shared understanding we all have of the vital role artists have in New Brunswick.”