Celebrating its 23 anniversary in 2024, Contemporary Art Forum Kitchener + Area (CAFKA) is a non-profit, artist-run centre that presents a free exhibition of contemporary art in public spaces across Waterloo Region once every two years. CAFKA takes contemporary art out of the gallery and presents it as a critical and integral part of community life, making it accessible to everyone. Between exhibitions, CAFKA presents public lectures, video + performance art, tours + workshops, and professional development opportunities for local artists. 

CAFKA’s biennial exhibition is a highly anticipated and internationally recognized event that attracts new visitors to the region, generating community excitement and newfound appreciation for contemporary artistic practices. We prioritize community impact through our outreach programs, promoting local artists, and distributing our funding throughout the local Arts + Culture ecosystem in an effort to attract and retain cultural workers in Waterloo Region.

We welcome local corporations and businesses to join our community through our Corporate Membership program or through event sponsorships and partnership opportunities. Community involvement is central to CAFKA's mission and our Corporate Membership program will help your business to be recognized in the community as an Arts + Culture supporter. The program's benefits likewise directly benefit your customers, clients, and employees, and we offer opportunities for your philanthropic gift and investment in community to be recognized.

Become a corporate member today and invest in the vitality of Waterloo Region's Art +Culture community!

 

Please contact Julie Hall, Development + Outreach Coordinator, to discuss mutually beneficial corporate membership options and how we can tailor the program to your corporate social responsibility goals.

 

Impact: 

CAFKA's community impact is exemplified by the CAFKA.21 Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost biennial exhibition, presented in compliance with pandemic gathering restrictions, which saw a modest estimate of 1.2 million community encounters over 92 days with an est.14 million total impressions (culled from regional traffic counts); 30 artists + presenters took part, with 17 artist projects and 45 installations across Waterloo Region; 52 public programs were facilitated, including virtual education tours + artists talks, with approximately 3,500 direct participants (26,000 pre-pandemic in 2018); 34 videos were produced + disseminated on CAFKATV; and the biennial was supported by 58 partnerships nationally + locally, resulting in an estimated $65,000 in-kind support.

CAFKA.23 Stay With Me... biennial exhibition was on view June 3 - July 22, 2023, in public spaces throughout Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge; featuring 48+ installations by 24 artists + collectives; community + curatorial partnerships with Arts & Culture organizations in Waterloo Region; an international artists residency; performances, artist talks, and lectures; interventions by CAFKA's new Young Contemporaries youth council; a public exhibition tour; and two unforgettable receptions celebrating CAFKA.23's opening and closing. 

 

Core Corporate Membership Benefits:

  • Corporate Membership card granting free admission to approximately 100 Ontario Art Galleries through the Galleries Ontario reciprocal admission program (including discounts in shops and restaurants)
  • Invitations to exclusive exhibition previews, special events and corporate member recognition events
  • Access to Professional Development Workshops
  • Employee engagement, community involvement and volunteer opportunities
  • Recognition on CAFKA's website
  • Certificate recognizing support
  • Tax receipt for the eligible portion of your gift
  • Regular communication on programs and opportunities through our newsletter

 

Levels of Corporate Membership 

$500 - $1,499

  • Access to Core benefits

$1,500 - $2999

  • Access to Core benefits +
  • Recognition on select print & advertisting materials
  • 2 membership cards

$3000 - $4999

  • Access to core benefits +
  • Recognition on select print & advertisting materials
  • 4 membership cards
  • Corporate member highlight on social media (combined 7,000+ followers) 
  • Private curatorial tour for up to 10 people

$5000 +

Please contact Julie Hall, outreach @cafka.org, to discuss how we can tailor experiences and recognition of your generous gift, or if you are interested in becoming a CAFKA event sponsor or community partner.