About

Building Culture by Supporting the Business of Art

For over two decades, Strategic Arts Management (SAM) has been a trusted partner to Nova Scotia’s artists and arts organizations. As a groundbreaking not-for-profit service organization, SAM provides hands-on, practical support through consulting, mentoring, workshops, research, and export development.

Our clients include creators, presenters, producers, festivals, educators, and arts organizations. Whether we’re strengthening governance, helping secure funding, building operational capacity, or improving strategic direction, SAM helps artists and organizations take care of the business of art, so they can focus on creating it.

The arts community in Nova Scotia and across Canada has weathered extraordinary challenges in recent years. The pandemic’s impact on audiences and revenues, coupled with broader economic and social pressures, has reshaped the landscape in which we all work. Like many in the cultural sector, SAM has also experienced these challenges (from staff burnout to recruitment and retention hurdles) but they have only reinforced our resolve.

With the guidance and renewed energy of our new Executive Director, D’Arcy Poultney, and a strategic plan led by our Board of Directors, SAM is entering a new era of collaboration, innovation, and resilience. We remain deeply committed to supporting artists and arts organizations as they navigate change, rebuild audiences, and continue to create work that inspires, provokes, and connects communities. At SAM, we believe that art builds culture, and when artists thrive, so does Nova Scotia. Together, we will continue to strengthen the creative economy and the cultural sector that defines our province and enriches our collective future. 

Create • Grow • Thrive

Our Story

Strategic Arts Management is a not-for-profit arts management service organization. We offer mentorship, management, administration, and other resources to all disciplines of artists and arts organizations in Nova Scotia at affordable, subsidized rates through our network of expert consultants.

Vision

Grow and develop the arts in Nova Scotia by supporting organization excellence, sustainability, and promotion.

Mission

SAM will provide mentorship, management, administration, and other resources to artists and arts organizations at affordable, subsidized rates through a network of high-quality service providers.

Mandate

  • Provide management, mentorship, education, leadership, and other services;
  • Serve clients from all artistic disciplines and at all budgetary levels;
  • Provide services across Nova Scotia

Our History

The concept of a not-for-profit, government subsidized, multi-disciplinary arts management service in Nova Scotia existed for many years. In the 1990s, funders acknowledged that Nova Scotian artists would benefit from subsidized management support. It was suggested that a multi-disciplinary model would suit a smaller population and encourage the exchange of ideas and information to the benefit of all involved. In 1999, the Nova Scotia Arts Council commissioned a Needs Assessment that recommended this model, but, when their mandate was terminated, the project did not continue.

In 2005 Barbara Richman became interested in this project and asked Leah Hamilton and Bruce Klinger to participate in its development. Through a Flying Squad project developed with Dance Nova Scotia, this group updated the earlier Needs Assessment and interviewed 50 potential clients working in the performing arts in creation, performance, dissemination and professional development functions. The survey results showed a continued need for a wide range of activities and a willingness to contract for them. In 2006 -2007, with the assistance of individual project grants awarded to Barbara Richman by the Canada Council and the Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, the Strategic Arts Management (SAM) concept was developed on a pilot basis with a small but diverse group of five performing arts clients.

Over this year the three founders further researched operational models; developed SAM as a not-for-profit organization with a business plan; began to source consultants; and explored sources for continued funding. In 2007-08 the Canada Council provided SAM with funding to continue its work and develop the organization further. Shortly thereafter, the Province of Nova Scotia also agreed to fund SAM on a pilot basis. Based on the success of the first year, this funding was fully renewed by both funders for 2008-09. The Canada Council has continued its investment in SAM, and they have since been joined by the Province of Nova Scotia.

Since its founding, SAM has provided a range of services to over 100 clients, through a combination of specific client activities and group workshops. The response of SAM Clients and SAM Consultants has been strongly positive and requests for services have continued to increase from both established and new clients.

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SAM is grateful for the support from our generous funders:

Logos of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Government of Canada, the Province of Nova Scotia, and the Craig Foundation.

And partners:

Logos of Theatre Nova Scotia labeled as “Our Events Partner” and Lyle Tilley Davidson Chartered Accountants labeled as “Our Funding Calendar Partner.”

You too can support SAM!

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