A recent study shows that cultural philanthropy is falling behind other sectors. We’ve found a groundbreaking solution: convincing more people to give to the arts.
MONTREAL, 6 OCTOBER 2026 — After extensive analysis, multiple cups of coffee, and several Excel spreadsheets, Fonderie Darling is excited to announce that we have found a promising way to enhance cultural philanthropy in Quebec: increasing the number of people who donate to the arts.
That's right. The joke would almost be disappointing if the numbers weren't so telling.
According to the most recent report, Les tendances en philanthropie au Québec, published by Épisode and Léger, the proportion of Quebecers who donate is on the rise, “increasing from 51% in 2023 to 60% in 20251.” This is excellent news for the philanthropic sector.
But one detail is worth noting: just 4% of these donations go to the arts and culture.
In other words, Quebecers are giving more than ever… but less often to the arts. Yet the arts shape our collective imagination, bring life to our neighbourhoods and our leisure time, showcase thousands of artists, create spaces where audiences, citizens, and neighbours can come together, nourish our minds, and make our cities more vibrant and creative. The arts enrich our daily lives, often in subtle but very real ways.
What if the main challenge facing cultural philanthropy were not individuals’ ability to give, but rather their inclination to support the arts?
“Quebecers are generous. So it’s not philanthropy that’s struggling; it’s the place culture occupies in donors’ decisions. We need to strengthen the instinct to give to the arts, both among individuals and businesses,” emphasizes Milly A. Dery, Executive and Artistic Director of Fonderie Darling
This year, Fonderie Darling is launching a fundraising campaign based on a very simple idea: if more people choose to include the arts among the causes they support—even with a modest donation—the entire sector will be transformed.
No one needs to make a one-time, large donation. All it takes is for more people to take their first step toward art and declare loud and clear: “I love art!”
That's why Fonderie Darling is inviting Quebecers not only to contribute to its campaign, but also to share why the arts matter to them and to engage their loved ones in this conversation. Every new donor helps to strengthen cultural philanthropy in Quebec for the long term, and a fun contest gives them the chance to win a personalized behind-the-scenes tour of Fonderie Darling if they share their love of art with their network.
“This year, we want to establish a participatory platform and send a clear message that the public supports the arts. The role of donors in the cultural sector will undoubtedly grow in the coming years. Fonderie Darling is a unique space that brings art to life through its very process, and we invite you now to make giving a habit and to join us in this great movement. ” – Jade Boivin, Director of Development and Public Relations at Fonderie Darling
The annual fundraising campaign aims to raise $50,000 to help Fonderie Darling continue its mission-driven activities. More specifically, every donation helps secure the funding needed to produce exhibitions, support artists in their creative work, delight 10,000+ annual visitors, inspire school groups to create, renew international exchange partnerships, and, above all, sustain this beautiful heritage site that is Fonderie Darling. Focused on artists, it enables them to connect, share, exchange ideas, build communities of practice, and engage in trial and error, ensuring their creative work continues to thrive and be celebrated.
Ultimately, reversing this trend to reclaim our cultural vitality may not be as difficult as it seems.
About the Annual Fundraising Campaign
Fonderie Darling’s annual fundraising campaign directly supports artistic creation, artist residencies, exhibitions, and public outreach activities. Every contribution helps ensure that our artistic programming remains accessible, bold, and vibrant, and every new donor expands the community shaping Quebec’s culture of arts philanthropy. This year, Fonderie Darling invites you to take back control of our culture, because we know—and it’s no secret—that you, too, love art!
Head to the website to read the testimonials
1 Episode (2026). “Philanthropy Trends in Quebec: A Look at the Behavior of Individual Donors, SMEs, and Large Corporations in 2026. The Only Longitudinal Study in Quebec,” 10th edition. Survey conducted by Léger, p. 7.
2 Ibid., p. 30.
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