Category Archives: Uncategorized

All about me

By Anahita | Published: Jul 13 2016

by Jini Stolk I’ve been finding out some interesting things about myself recently. (No: not that I sometimes need a few weeks’ break from writing blog posts; even more interesting than that.) First of all, my “innovation style” is that of a meerkat – collaborative, interested and solution- focused. I and other meerkats “know that having […]

Also posted in Collaboration | 1 Response

A space of one’s own

By Anahita | Published: Jul 13 2016

by Jini Stolk Art needs space and space needs art. Duncan Webb, ex-Torontonian, threw down the gauntlet a few years back in a blog post titled Message to Cultural Groups: Rent, Don’t Buy!  His arguments were as expected, and they’re not wrong: real estate is not a liquid asset; arts groups have trouble servicing debt; […]

Also posted in Facilities | Leave a comment

#TOArtsThanks

By Anahita | Published: Apr 13 2016

by Jini Stolk I’ve seen a lot of budgets over the years, but I’ve never seen one as positive for the arts as was recently unveiled in Ottawa. Simon Brault’s moving response on behalf of the Canada Council talked, with passion but not exaggeration, about a new chapter having been opened in the artistic and […]

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Response

It’s unanimous! Why?

By Anahita | Published: Apr 13 2016

by Jini Stolk I’m delighted to welcome Luminato’s new Artistic Director, who’ll be coming to us from Australia’s Melbourne Festival to helm the festival’s 2017 edition. I wish her great success in this exciting new position, and look forward to working together over the coming years. I also warmly welcome Luminato’s new CEO; he came […]

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Responses

Lest we forget

By Anahita | Published: Apr 13 2016

by Jini Stolk A few timely reminders: Audiences complete the circle. This heartfelt thank you to audiences from veteran box office employee Christine Quintana, reminds us of our responsibility to understand and honour the wisdom, diversity and caring of the people who come to see our shows. Your audience will change over time. Lessons from the […]

Also posted in Audience Development | Leave a comment

Funding reform

By Anahita | Published: Feb 25 2016

by Jini Stolk Toronto’s arts community enjoys the unique privilege of having arms-length funding bodies at all three levels of government, specifically mandated to support our work. We have the possibility of ongoing operating support; places to go with project proposals; and a built-in connection through peer juries to community feedback and oversight. The Arts […]

Also posted in Fundraising | Leave a comment

Be it resolved

By Anahita | Published: Feb 25 2016

by Jini Stolk Is it ever too late to make New Year’s resolutions? I think not. It’s certainly never too late to share Vu Le’s list of Ten Resolutions for the Nonprofit Sector for 2015. If you are one of those people who still think the arts are not really, truly, part of the non-profit […]

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

After the chill

By Anahita | Published: Jan 31 2016

by Jini Stolk Many of us are feeling a bit warmer…and freer…since Minister Diane Lebouthillier’s announcement calling off the Canada Revenue Agency’s political activities audits. This much criticized review of charities’ involvement in public awareness and advocacy was unveiled in the 2012 Federal Budget which provided CRA with $13.4 million to track down charitable scofflaws. […]

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Exploring the Feasibility: 10 Feasible Tips

By Anahita | Published: Jan 31 2016

by Jini Stolk You have a great idea. It’s been percolating for a good while now and you’re ready to take action. Does this idea have legs? Can you accomplish it? How do you move forward? It’s time for Exploring the Feasibility. At Creative Trust we were very careful to figure out whether our ambitious […]

Also posted in Organizational Development | Leave a comment

Hiring well

By Anahita | Published: Jan 31 2016

by Jini Stolk Hiring can involve both anticipation and anxiety. If you do it right, you can look forward to sunny days, basking in achievements and successes. If you don’t…it’s yours to fix. Here are a few pieces of advice for managers and for board members undertaking what might be their most important job – […]

Also posted in Organizational Development | Leave a comment