About Us
The Windsor Endowment for the Arts offers two kinds of support for creative endeavour in Windsor and Essex County:
- Applause, encouragement, public celebration
- Money
WEA has spent more than a decade developing sound financial support for all sorts of artistic endeavours. The endowment itself consists of a core financial portfolio, conservatively invested to generate reliable income. Other fundraising activities, especially to meet unavoidable annual expenses, occur from time to time. They can also be fun and stir up interest in the artists and performers involved – WEA has shown a particular knack for putting on events that get noticed.
The endowment is a legacy helping individuals, businesses and institutions leave a permanent mark on the culture of this region. All art, from a solo musician to an accomplished theatrical troupe to a painter or film-maker or poet, can make our home a better place to live.
From the start, the Windsor Endowment for the Arts has promised to encourage,develop,celebrate the arts in Windsor and Essex County in order to enrich the quality of life in the community. Read more about our story at the history link.
Through various fundraising events, and the generous bequests of supporters, WEA has been able to develop the endowment as a source of revenues that can support all sorts of talent in the community.
WEA at first established several awards which were presented to notable figures in this area for their career achievements. Here is the list of original award recipients.
In 2009 a restructuring began, supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation. A two-pronged strategy evolved:
- Recognition for significant achievements through the WEA Arts Leadership Awards. Both artists and the organizations that support creativity will be honoured.
- Public exposure and financial support for promising projects, infrastructure, and emerging talent through the WEA Arts Grants.
With much fanfare and hoopla, the awards and grants programs went public in a party dubbed Arts Circus Extraordinaire in October, 2010. These awards and grants will generally be presented once every two years. Now WEA is moving on.
The endowment must grow; more events are planned. Certain fixed costs resulting from regulations and administration must be covered annually. WEA seeks counsel and guidance from an Advisory Council of notables in this region who can offer guidance, both artistic and financial, to WEA’s Board of Directors.
