QWAC gets charitable status

QWAC gets charitable status. Craig Boyko, left, and Eugene Paunil wear two of Paunil's cardboard mask creations during the 2011 installment of the Queen West Art Crawl in Trinity Bellwoods Park. File photo/NICK KOZAK

The Queen West Art Crawl (QWAC) was started by ArtScape in 2003 as a one-day art sale in Trinity Bellwoods Park in Toronto's downtown west end.

In 2008, the Parkdale Community Development Group (formerly the Parkdale Liberty Economic Development Corporation) assumed ownership and production of the event and grew it into a three-day art sale and festival taking place along Queen Street West between Bathurst Street and Roncesvalles Avenue.

Now as the event enters its 10th year, QWAC has been granted charitable status.

The Canada Revenue Agency is the government department responsible for granting organizations charitable tax status, and obtaining that status means the organization is able to issue receipts to donors for income tax purposes, Goldrick said.

"Because QWAC is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2012, it is a great thing that (charitable status) has come along at this time because it will really allow us to put a focus on donating and donating to the festival," she said.

QWAC, which aims to promote interest in and knowledge about art in the area through activities and educational initiatives, is the biggest event the Parkdale Community Development Group (PCGC) runs each year.

"It is the driver for PCDG, it is our biggest source of revenue," Goldrick said.

Charitable status allows QWAC to seek out new sources of funding from large foundations to individual contributions.

"Currently, QWAC gets most of its funding from the vendors who actually pay to have their booth in the park," she said.

About 60 per cent of the festival's funds come from those vendor fees while the remainder of the revenue that has been supporting QWAC has come from funding sources such as the City of Toronto, the Trillium Foundation and Celebrate Ontario, a program that helps new and existing festivals and events enhance their programs.

A small amount came from sponsors, but Goldrick said her job now will be to build the sponsorship side.

Having charitable status allows Goldrick to seek sponsorship from foundations that support artistic endeavors, but require an organization to have that status in place.

"We were never eligible to apply for this kind of funding," She said. "Now with charitable status we are able to go after that funding."

"It also opens up funding and support at the community and grassroots level," she said. "Because anyone can donate to this organization now and get a charitable receipt for it."

Last year PCDG put a renewed focus on the event and Goldrick said foot traffic is believed to have increased by about 30 per cent.

"We really think that, with a focus on marketing this year and continuing on a path of building social media marketing and contesting and working with our partners even more closely, that we should be able to focus on increasing the foot traffic, not just in Trinity Bellwoods park but along Queen Street West."

A thrust will be made to tie what is happening in the park and the focus on artists into the community and make people realize the west end is a vibrant part of Toronto to explore, not just during QWAC, but throughout the year.

Goldrick said plans are being developed to enhance the "community partner crawl" portion of the festival at businesses and galleries along Queen West between Bathurst and Roncesvalles as well as in the park.

The new fundraising effort will begin with an art auction in Parkdale called ArtGives Monday, March 19 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Gallery 345, 345 Sorauren Ave.

ArtGives will feature works by local artists that will be auctioned off by David Silcox, Sotheby's Canada. There will also be a performance by Juno Award-winner Jane Bunnett. Tickets to ArtGives are $40 in advance, available at www.queenwestartcrawl.com/artgives, or $50 at the door.

This year QWAC is scheduled for Sept. 14 to 16.