What’s next for Orchestras Canada and Small Budget Orchestras? NOW THAT THE MONEY’S ALL GONE…

OFSO, ACO, & OC: short history 1955: Ontario Federation of Symphony Orchestras (OFSO) has its first meeting… in a living room in St. Catharines 1965: The Ontario Arts Council publishes the “Schabas Report” – a study of issues of and possibilities for Ontario orchestras. Consultant Ezra Schabas recommends that the nascent association receive provincial support 1966: OFSO hires its first employee

OFSO, ACO, & OC: history pt : OFSO advocates for the establishment of a national association for Canadian orchestras 1972: Association of Canadian Orchestras (ACO) is founded : ACO and OFSO co-exist with separate legal structures and funding, and shared staff, membership, and facilities.

OC Merger of OFSO and ACO Over time… Smaller board, arguably less representative Reduced capacity to provide specific services to smaller budget orchestras, given our financial pressures & their limited ability to pay Smaller staff team (6 FTEs in 1997; 2.5 FTEs in 2015)

OC: 1997-present day Ongoing quest to find a sustainable business model for OC, featuring: Diversified revenues (earned revenues, donations/sponsorships, government funding) Stable or growing membership The right services, priced properly The right number of the right people on the staff and board.

Strategic Planning at OC Staff turnover (4 different E.D.s between 2001 & 2005!) resulted in short-term planning ONLY between Regular multi-year planning cycle starting in 2008 Recurrent themes/challenges: serving orchestras large & small; “doing more with less”; narrowing focus; managing expectations

OC’s mission: 2014 edition Orchestras Canada is the united national voice of Canadian orchestras: a focal point for industry intelligence and collective action.

OC’s vision, 2014 edition Orchestras Canada will help to create the conditions in which Canadian orchestras can thrive.

OC & Small Budget Orchestras pt. 1 An integral part of OC’s work since the very beginning… Not explicitly excluded from our mission and vision… BUT…

OC and Small Budget Orchestras, pt. 2 Budget pressures at OC Governance changes at OC Funder priorities Diversity of situations and needs of the orchestras themselves (urban/regional; ability to pay for services; amateur/professional…) …create interesting challenges for you & OC!

SBO Study, 2011 In 2011, with special funding from the Ontario Arts Council, OC undertook a study of the “situation and needs of Ontario’s smaller budget orchestras.” 84 individuals from 45 orchestras were consulted. Conclusion: we needed staff & money to better serve this group.

Ontario Trillium Foundation Project Fall 2011, OC submitted an application to the Ontario Trillium Foundation February 2012, Trillium granted OC $210,000 over 3 years to engage project staff and run programs for Ontario’s SBOs: regional meetings, a music director summit, conferences, webinars, & a website overhaul

Ontario Trillium Foundation Project, part 2 We have undertaken these projects, thanks to Debra Chandler, Frédéric Julien – and your enthusiastic participation The Trillium funding will be fully spent, on schedule, by February 28, 2015 We’ll prepare a final report, and the Trillium file will be closed

Now What? ??????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????

For Consideration OC’s “core” revenues ca. $350,000/year 25% membership fees; 15% other earned; 8% donated; 52% operating grants (Canada Council, OAC) In 13/14, SBOs paid $4800 in membership fees (of a total of $86,000 in dues collected) – 1.3% of total revenues

Katherine’s questions, pt. 1 What do SBOs want & need in order to thrive? Given OC’s strengths and focus on “collective action”, what is OC potentially placed to deliver? How much self-organizing can SBOs do? How can OC help SBOs “help themselves”? How might the finances work?

Proposed next steps Satisfaction survey for this conference & the SBO program in general Preparation of the final report for Trillium Recruitment of an SBO “next steps” task force Six month mandate Reporting to the OC board no later than September 2015

Want to get involved? Talk to me or me! (contact information on the next slide) OR Talk to Matthew Jones (OC board member)

Thank you! Katherine Carleton x1 Orchestrascanada.org Orchestrescanada.org