The National Theater School of Canada (ENT) receives $1.5 million as part of a $15 million gift from the Slaight Family Foundation distributed to 22 organizations to help the theater sector revive after the pandemic. This is the most significant private sponsorship ever received by the bilingual educational establishment located on rue Saint-Denis, in Montreal, for more than 60 years.
“We are obviously very grateful,” said Fanny Pagé, director of the ENT, joined in Toronto, where she participated on Wednesday in the official announcement of the philanthropic distribution. The envelope of 1.5 million will be used in particular to finance various training and creation programs over the next three years.
“The pandemic and inflation are affecting us in different ways,” she adds. The productions cost more because the materials cost more. We have also adjusted the salaries of our teachers. »
The list of recipients includes Toronto’s Luminato Festival, the Banff Center for Arts and Creativity, Native Earth Performing Arts and Shaw Festival, Stratford. “By forcing theaters to close, the pandemic has devastated the industry,” said Gary Slaight, president and CEO of the family foundation, revealing his generous contribution to the recovery. “We are therefore very happy to support these organizations in order to allow them to concentrate on the creative work and the ways of encouraging the public to return to the cinema. »
The Slaight family made their fortune in telecommunications. His foundation also announced last week 10 million to help musicians in need. In February another 15 million was distributed to support women and girls in need. Since its creation in 2008, Slaight patrons have distributed approximately 185 million to various causes, including several cultural ones.
“The arts need money to help the next generation, which has been particularly affected by the recent crisis,” comments Wendy Reid, professor at HEC Montréal and specialist in cultural philanthropy. In particular, she carried out the recent study Rethinking cultural philanthropy in Montreal. relationships and community (2021) for the Montreal Arts Council.
The Quebec difference
In Quebec, between 10 and 15% of the budgets of cultural organizations come from philanthropy. “The difference between Quebec and the rest of Canada or the United States is that here, now, we haven’t sufficiently developed cultural philanthropy professionals,” says Professor Reid. This generosity develops over the long term. It is very important to create strong links between artists, arts professionals and donors, and we need well-trained people within cultural organizations to develop a culture of philanthropy. »
HEC Montreal in shape. The professor herself began to get involved in the field for the National Ballet of Canada in Toronto in the 1980s.
“Cultural philanthropy was not so developed in Ontario then,” adds Ms.me Reid. Quebec’s economy is strong now. There is a great capacity to give and an extensive knowledge of needs. Cultural philanthropy, on the other hand, is less advanced here than that benefiting the health or education sectors. »
Its report last year, for example, mentions shortcomings in the sound and stumbling involvement of members of the boards of directors of artistic companies; moreover, they are not always chosen for their ability to give. Quebec, on the other hand, has introduced tax credits to encourage donations.