MISSION

ArtsLink NB unifies New Brunswick’s arts and culture sector and fosters the sector’s contributions to a dynamic and prosperous province.

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VISION

The arts are vital to all New Brunswickers.

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MANDATE

• Establish a network that connects individual artists and arts organizations locally, regionally and provincially;
• Foster public awareness of arts and culture throughout New Brunswick and promote the value of arts in society;
• Create a community culture that acknowledges arts professionals and treats them with respect;
• Provide guidance, resources and assistance for artists and their organizations;
• Promote arts education;
• Advocate for issues relating to professional artists and the arts community;
• Facilitate growth, prosperity, and excellence – socially, economically, artistically and culturally.

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ACTIVITIES

Founded in 2009 to unify artists and arts organizations and promote their value, ArtsLink works hard to:

• Explain to the government, the private sector, and the public why greater support for the arts isn’t just a good idea, but a smart and necessary investment.
• Give artists the tools and training they need to succeed in New Brunswick – and beyond.
• Create opportunities for artists to meet with each other and with other stakeholders, to learn, share, and be inspired together.
• Offer benefits that cater to our members’ unique needs, including a health insurance plan for artists

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ADVOCACY

Advocacy is of critical importance to ArtsLink NB and its members. We work had to ensure policy-makers understand the economic and social contributions of artists, as well as the challenges they face in living and working in New Brunswick.

We present our members’ concerns at numerous discussions at the provincial, national and international levels.

Our current advocacy efforts include:

• The Status of the Artist Transition Committee
• The Arts and Culture Advisory Committee
• Arts Day on the Hill
• Membership in CARFAC Maritimes
• The Canadian Arts Coalition
• The Government of New Brunswick’s Strategic Table for Arts Education
• The Official Languages Discussion Committee

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PROGRAMS

Artists need opportunities to get together, to share ideas, get inspired and meet possible collaborators and partners. ArtsLink NB events and programs include:

Annual General Meeting:

Your vote matters. Share your views and guide ArtsLink NB priorities and programs at the annual general meeting.

The Arts Atlantic Symposium:

A three-day multi-disciplinary gathering that fosters artistic exchange and collaboration, offering performances, exhibitions, and discussions that explore the evolving role of the arts in society.

CATAPULT Arts Accelerator:

A comprehensive 8-week program that equips New Brunswick artists with entrepreneurial skills like business modeling, marketing, branding, and financial planning. It includes one-on-one coaching and mentorship to build sustainable artistic careers.

Cross-Cultural Creation Residency:

A unique three-week residency in collaboration with Mawi’art and l’AAAPNB fostering collaboration between Indigenous, Anglophone, and Francophone artists to explore, create, and share across cultures.

Introspect: a Nature Residency

A biennial, low-tech residency focusing on the essentials of artistic creation in nature. It provides artists with a distraction-free environment to create in New Brunswick’s provincial parks.

One-2-Ones

Individual 20-30 minute sessions with arts professionals, providing guidance on various topics such as grant writing, proposal reviews, and licensing for musicians.

The Foundry

An online platform offering courses and resources designed to enhance essential career skills for professional artists in New Brunswick.

The Lending Library

A collection of books and equipment, including cameras, ebooks, projectors, etc., supporting artistic development and professional growth.

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COMMUNICATIONS

We communicate our members and the general public in several ways.

Bi-weekly newsletter:

Featuring ArtsLink NB news, events, job postings, calls for submission, residency openings, and other opportunities for members to make and share their work.

Social media:

Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn updates on the arts in New Brunswick and beyond, as well as member-generated event listings and news.

Websites:

Your go-to sites for research, resources and professional development tools:

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RESEARCH

ArtsLink NB conducts vital research in the arts and culture sector, contributing valuable insights that drive our advocacy and programs.

Here are some of our latest research projects:

• Culture is Made to Share: Summary of 13 Research Interviews on the Current Impacts and Challenges of Cultural Venues in New Brunswick (2023): This report, based on in-depth discussions with senior staff members of 13 cultural venues across New Brunswick, provides insights into these venues’ roles in community engagement and the challenges they face.
• Impacts and Challenges of Cultural Venues in New Brunswick: Summary of Survey Responses (2023): This report provides an analysis of responses from a recent survey of 71 operators of cultural venues across the province. The survey examines cultural venues’ contributions to the community, financial health, and human resources in New Brunswick.
• A Statistical Profile of New Brunswick’s Professional Artists (2021): Using custom data from Statistics Canada’s 2021 long-form census, this report examines the demographics, employment characteristics, and incomes of the province’s artists.
• 2021 Report on the Premier’s Task Force on the Status of the Artist Released by the Premier’s Task Force on the Status of the Artist: This report addresses the socio-economic conditions of New Brunswick’s professional artists. Commissioned by Premier David Alward in 2014, the task force examined challenges specific to artists’ ability to sustain their livelihoods.

Through these research initiatives, ArtsLink NB continues to support the advancement and sustainability of New Brunswick’s arts and culture sector.

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PARTNERSHIPS

Collaboration is key, and ArtsLink NB is actively working with other organizations in the arts and beyond to share ideas, and develop new opportunities for our members. Here’s a glance at some of the many organizations and institutions with whom we’ve collaborated, consulted or otherwise partnered with recently: