The Association for Opera in Canada is excited to announce the next stage in its exploration of social finance in the sector –
The Opera Bonds Accelerator Program.
The Accelerator is a 3 month investment readiness and capacity-building program for 3-4 opera projects/teams, providing technical knowledge, advice, mentorship and peer support to ensure projects that may be seeking future investment are ready to deliver on intended positive social and financial impacts. The Accelerator has a secondary purpose of providing case studies for the uses of social finance in opera, as well as informing the development of a new Catalyst Loan fund and its associated investment raise.
GOALS
– To prepare projects for investments
– To develop Case Studies to inform the sector on various uses of social finance.
– To develop Cases for Support to share with potential investors
– To understand how social finance can be structured to create financial inclusion equity and support for under-served, under-resourced programs.
– To inform the development of the Catalyst Loan Fund and the Investment Raise
WHO SHOULD APPLY
– Organizations, collectives or individuals seeking investment (loans, repayable finance) for projects projected to have a social (link to civic impact framework) and financial return. Types of projects may include but are not limited to productions, community programs, projects, opera-adjacent business start-ups, space-related projects, human resources, international and domestic touring.
– Applicants who can commit to the 3 month program, and with a minimum of two participants/staff.
– As one of our goals is to ensure inclusion and equity in social finance, we will prioritize applications from equity-deserving communities.
DETAILS
– The program will run from April 2025 -June 2025, with twice a month sessions.
– Most of the Accelerator program will take place online, through Zoom.
– There may be an opportunity to meet in-person, and for this, one travel subsidy per project will be available.
– An honorarium of $500 per project on completion of the program.
LEAD CONSULTANT – JANE BISBEE
We are fortunate to be guided by the expertise of Lead Consultant Jane Bisbee on the design on delivery of the Accelerator program.
Jane’s career is focussed on creation of non-traditional financial strategies and tools for small business, in particular social purpose organizations and cultural industries. As Executive Director of the Social Enterprise Fund (2011 to 2024), she built one of Canada’s first and most active social finance funds, with a portfolio of more than $90M placed in 100+ community benefit organizations working across multiple sectors, 25% of which was invested in the arts and cultural organizations.
She has an extensive background working in the arts , including two decades with the provincial government’s culture ministry, and currently has an active consultancy practice in the field of social finance, as well as serving on the federal government’s Social Innovation Advisory Council. Jane was presented with a lifetime achievement award in 2006 by Alberta’s film industry, and the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2023 for service in community.
APPLY
Before applying, you are encouraged to book a meeting with Jane Bisbee to answer any questions you may have about the program. Send an email to: janeb@opera.ca
DEADLINE: February 24, 2025, 11:59PM PACIFIC
Note: We encourage applicants to submit their application even if you do not think you are the right fit or if the program as described does not directly apply to you. We are particularly looking to understand needs and activities in development in the sector that might benefit from a social finance opportunity.
The Opera Bonds Accelerator is funded by the Canada Council for the Arts through a Sector Innovation Grant.
