An integrated financial and statistical online database called CADAC (Canadian Arts Data/ Données sur les arts au Canada) is being developed for launch in late 2008.

CADAC is a web-based database that will lighten the administration burden on arts organizations applying for operating funding to one or multiple public funders by enabling them to submit one set of financial and statistical information.

For years, arts funders have heard from the organizations they fund that they would like a more unified approach to the complex and comprehensive funding application processes.  A key element is the financial and statistical data required by each funding agency.

The CADAC benefits for arts organizations, arts funders and the broader sector are:

- Arts organizations will have access to reports and historical data on their own organizations, as well as reports that compare their data to all the data in CADAC for similar organizations – by size, region or discipline.
- Financial and statistical information will be secure.  Only the arts funders will have access to the information provided by arts organizations applying to their programs.
- Arts funders and arts organizations will be able to use the aggregate data to identify trends and monitor the overall health of the arts sector.
- The arts sector will be able to speak with a common voice on the impact of the arts.

Pilot testing of the database is expected to begin in October with a number of arts organizations and will proceed throughout the fall. Once the testing is complete, CADAC will be phased in gradually over the next two years, beginning in late 2008.

This initiative was originally conceived by the Intergovernmental Roundtable of Arts Funders and Foundations (IRAFF) in Ontario and shepherded through the development phase by the Ontario Arts Council. The following are member partners: the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, the British Columbia Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Manitoba Arts Council, the Ontario Arts Council, the Saskatchewan Arts Board and Toronto Arts Council. Discussions are ongoing with other provincial, territorial and municipal arts funders to encourage them to join the partnership.

In addition, the CADAC initiative has supporting partners: the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, the Ontario Ministry of Culture, the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the City of Toronto.

The Canada Council for the Arts will be the secretariat and host for CADAC.

http://www.canadacouncil.ca/news/releases/2008/jp128620783918870904.htm