Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Festival Antigonish Foundation

The Festival Antigonish Foundation is a registered charitable foundation created to build a stable financial base for Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Established in 2007, the Foundation stewards an endowment that has grown to more than $1 million through donations from individual philanthropists, community supporters, and matching contributions from Canadian Heritage’s Endowment Incentive Program.

The Foundation operates at arm’s length from the theatre as an independent charity with its own board of directors and an investment committee that oversees the endowment. All gifts to the Foundation are endowed and capitalized in perpetuity. Only the annual investment income is disbursed, ensuring that the capital remains intact while generating a predictable stream of support year after year.

The endowment’s annual income is granted directly to Festival Antigonish and forms part of the theatre’s operating budget. According to the Foundation, the Endowment Fund currently provides roughly $40,000 per year in grants to help keep ticket prices accessible, sustain general operations, and expand artistic and community outreach programming. This support complements government funding, sponsorships, and individual donations received by the theatre and its partner organization, Theatre Antigonish.

Although the Foundation’s sole grantee is Festival Antigonish, the impact of its funding is broad. Grants help underwrite professional mainstage productions, youth and education initiatives, access programs such as pay‑what‑you‑can and relaxed performances, and facility needs at the Bauer Theatre. Through campaigns like “Bridge the Bauer” and the “Raise the Curtain” giving campaign, the Foundation is also positioned as a vehicle for long‑term sustainability and future capital renewal.

The Festival Antigonish Foundation is governed by a volunteer board drawn from regional business and community leaders, supported by professional investment advice. Its mandate is to prudently manage the endowment, maximize matching opportunities from federal programs, and provide a reliable, sustainable source of revenue to the theatre. By separating endowed funds from annual fundraising, the Foundation helps protect the artistic mission of Festival Antigonish from short‑term financial volatility and contributes to the long‑term vitality of the performing arts in northeastern Nova Scotia.