Orchestras Canada/Orchestres Canada

Resources

Use this guide to help shape a compelling narrative about your organization, its challenges, and the support you need. Whether you’re preparing a presentation, a grant report, or a funding pitch to Council, this framework helps align your story with local priorities.

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What is your mission? How long have you been active in the community? What’s the scale and range of your programming? How are you funded (public, private, earned revenue, etc.)?
What issue or challenge are you currently facing? How is it affecting your organization, your team, your audiences, or your ability to deliver programs?
What choice(s) have you had to make/are you wrestling with because of the challenge(s) you’re facing? How could these choices affect your ability to fulfill your mission?
What has happened so far as a result of the situation? What have you learned? What might you do differently next time?
What exactly are you requesting from the municipality? (Time? Money? Visibility? A vote?) How much do you need, by when, and for how long? If you receive this support, what will change, and for whom? Are other partners or governments involved in your broader request? How does the municipal ask fit into the overall picture?
Are others in your community facing a similar challenge? Who are the key stakeholders and partners? How many people are affected, and where in the community are they located? What are their demographics (age groups, income levels, neighbourhoods)? What broader impact is the issue having?
What could happen if this issue isn’t addressed? What’s at risk for your organization, your community, or the city? What can we do now to prevent negative outcomes?
How does your issue connect with municipal priorities? Is it mentioned in your municipality’s cultural policy, strategic plan, or another civic framework? How can you tie your ask to what Council already says it values?

Once you have fleshed out your story and connected it to advocacy priorities, pull it all together into one short, compelling paragraph: your core advocacy message.

Use this section to create a brief narrative you can deliver in 30-60 seconds: at a meeting, in a presentation, or when submitting a written brief. Aim for clarity, connection, and a specific ask.

Your pitch should include:

  • Who you are
  • What the challenge is
  • Who is affected
  • What you are asking for
  • How this aligns with local priorities
  • What will change if your ask is granted
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Apathy is Boring 

An organization that uses art and technology to educate youth about democracy. They envision a Canada where youth are active decision-makers at all levels of the democratic process.

www.apathyisboring.com

Canadian Arts Coalition

The Canadian Arts Coalition is a non-partisan advocacy movement of associations, arts organizations and artists. Their most recent major campaign, ArtsVote 2025, included a range of tools and templates (social media decks, a home election kit, social media profile frames, etc.) that can inspire you and be used as a starting point for other advocacy efforts.  

https://canadianartscoalition.com/artsvote-resources/ 

Creative Cities Network (CCNC)

CCNC is a national association dedicated to strengthening municipal cultural policy, planning and practice through knowledge sharing, research and professional development. Their online library includes publications that can be helpful in making the case for the arts from various perspectives (i.e.: arts and positive change in communities, building community identity and pride, culture as an economic engine, personal and social development and youth, etc.)

https://www.creativecity.ca/library/publications/  

Federation of Canadian Municipalities

The FCM’s library contains reports, toolkits, recommendations and other resources designed to help stakeholders address challenges in their community. 

https://fcm.ca/en/resources 

Les arts et la ville

Le réseau Les Arts et la Ville représente l’alliance du monde municipal et de la culture. Il rassemble et outille les communautés des francophonies canadiennes afin qu’elles utilisent la culture pour développer durablement leurs milieux de vie et renforcer le tissu social. L’organisme offre des formations et a publié une série de ressources (guide pour une transition socioécologique par les arts et la culture, guide d’élaboration d’une politique culturelle municipale, études de cas de projets exemplaires, etc.) qui peuvent aider à étoffer un argumentaire dans le cadre de vos efforts de représentation. 

https://arts-ville.org/publications/ 

Mass Culture

Mass Culture harnesses data and evaluative thinking to demonstrate the true impact of the arts sector. Their website contains information about current research and the Artifex resource library, essentially a searchable database to help make the case for the arts from a range of perspectives. 

https://criticaldigitalmethods.ca/artifex/database/ 

Municipal World

Acts as a resource for municipalities, providing tools, templates and learning opportunities for municipal staff and locally elected officials. Also provides stories (articles, profiles and podcasts) on a range of priority issues for municipalities, including tourism and advocacy. 

https://www.municipalworld.com/

March of Dimes Canada

March of Dimes Canada is a national charity committed to championing equity, empowering ability and creating change for the more than eight million people with disabilities across the country. Their Political Advocacy Toolkit includes a number of templates and resources that may be of use to you (letter templates, follow-up email templates, public consultation response template, advocacy story worksheet, etc.)

https://www.marchofdimes.ca/en-ca/aboutus/govtrelations/political-advocacy-toolkit/Pages/templates-resources.aspx 

Nonprofit Tech for Good

Helpful ideas on how to best use social media for advocacy. 

www.nptechforgood.com

Alberta Municipalities

While this resource has ‘Alberta’ in the name, it can be applied by anyone. Representing municipalities where over 85% of Albertans live, Alberta Municipalities share information, ideas and solutions with elected and administrative leaders to address municipal issues. Their website includes a substantial advocacy toolkit that provides tools and templates to help stakeholders make their case in support of municipal priorities. 

https://www.abmunis.ca/advocacy-resources

Culture Capitale-nationale et Chaudière-Appalaches

CCNCA regroupe, réunit et représente des individus et des organismes qui oeuvrent en culture afin de favoriser le développement des territoires de la Capitale-Nationale et de Chaudière-Appalaches. Le site web de l’organisme compile plusieurs mémoires et rapports et qui peuvent être pertinents pour les élus et administrateurs municipaux, travailleurs culturels, chercheurs, etc.

https://www.culture-quebec.qc.ca/outils-et-references/ 

Culture Montréal

Culture Montréal est un regroupement indépendant et non partisan qui rassemble tout citoyen reconnaissant le rôle fondamental de la culture dans l’essor de la métropole. L’organisme a mené une série d’études, et publié plusieurs rapports de recherche sur des thématiques qui peuvent appuyer les campagnes visant à bonifier l’investissement municipal en culture (p.ex. : développement durable et transition écologique, politiques publiques d’appui à la philanthropie culturelle, le financement du secteur des arts et de la créativité numériques, etc.) https://culturemontreal.ca/publications/?type=etudes-et-rapports

Aaker, J. & Smith, A. (2010). The Dragonfly Effect: Quick, Effective, and Powerful Ways to Use Social Media to Drive Social Change. San Fransisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

IFACCA, Good Practice Guide on Arts Advocacy, 2014 

Sussman, A. (2007). The Art of the Possible: A Handbook for Political Activism. Toronto, ON: McLelland & Stewart Ltd.

Unicef Advocacy Toolkit https://www.unicef.org/wca/media/6451/file/UNICEF-KRC3-KRC4-Toolkit.pdf 



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