REPORT on CBAC SURVEY OF ARTS ENDOWMENT IN CANADA

To try to determine whether arts organizations in Canada have endowments*, or are seeking to build them, The Council for Business and the Arts in Canada conducted a cross-country, cross-disciplinary survey in January, 1999. A questionnaire was faxed to art galleries, museums, symphonies, theatre, opera and dance companies in every province.

83% of the arts organizations surveyed responded - itself an indicator of the current level of interest in endowments for the arts.

A few organizations noted that in the past they had raised funds intended for endowment that had, instead, been used for deficit reduction or for capital expenditures. In some cases the capital from the fund, as well as the income, had been drawn down to finance operations.