Fundraising

Dreweatts has announced a charity auction this November to raise funds for the Queen’s Mother’s Clothing Guild, a royal charity.

One of the most anticipated lots is Pearly Queen of St. James’s Palace, a large-scale portrait of Queen Elizabeth II as she appeared on the first-class postage stamp.

The work, by contemporary artist Ann Carrington, features thousands of pearl buttons hand-sewn onto a black canvas and is expected to sell for between £10,000 and £25,000.

Princess Alexandra, the Honourable Lady Ogilvy, the guild’s patron since 2003, said the proceeds of the auction “will contribute significantly to the vital work of the charity to provide more new clothing and bedding to those in need across the UK”.

Carrington created the work for the 140th anniversary of the guild. “Each button represents the volunteer sewers and knitters whose hand-made contributions since 1882 have enabled the charity to grow and flourish,” she said.

The work is part of a series of 23 portraits of the Queen created by Carrington, the only fine artist who holds a license from Royal Mail to produce artworks in postage-stamp form.

One of the 23 works was commissioned by the Queen herself, who requested that it be executed in red and gold.

The Museum of London has received three major donations totalling £7m towards the creation of its new home at West Smithfield's General Market.

Donations of £5m from The Garfield Weston Foundation, £1m from The Schroder Foundation and Family and £1m from the Wolfson Foundation brings the museum close to its initial £40m fundraising target.

The three donations come as the museum finishes restoration work on the external facades of the almost 150-year-old General Market, which will host a festival curated by Londoners in 2025, before the museum opens in 2026.

Internal works to the General Market building are also progressing, with excavation completed on the site’s former Salt Stores and Vaults to create trenches for ventilation and services. 

“We are marching forward at pace to create a fantastic new museum for the city – one that tells the story of London and its people in all its complicated and colourful glory,” London Museum Director Sharon Ament said.

Work on a major £29m upgrade to a theatre in Somerset to "help attract bigger shows" will begin next year, it has been announced.

South Somerset District Council said the redevelopment of the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil, Somerset, will start in January 2023 and take around a year.

The work will include expansion of the main auditorium capacity from 622 to 900 and construction of a fly tower so shows involving wire work can take place,

Two smaller cinema or studio spaces, a dance studio and a community studio are also part of the plans. Overall the work will cost £29m, with £10m coming from central government grants.

The Yeovil Amateur Operatics Society and other amateur groups who use the Octagon will be relocated to the Westlands entertainment venue while work takes place.

Councillor Mike Best, portfolio holder for health and well-being, said: "I fully understand through my theatre background the limitations of the Westlands facility.

"But at least we are fortunate to be able to... offer that, rather than societies having to cancel shows for an extended piece of time."

"Hopefully when the Octagon is redeveloped, the year it will have taken will have all been worthwhile."

Theatr Clwyd's ongoing refurbishment has been supported by a series of major private funders.

The theatre received £1.5m from The Moondance Foundation, £500,000 from The Wolfson Foundation, £500,000 from the Garfield Weston Foundation, as well as £500,000 from an anonymous local philanthropist, all to be put towards major works on its 46-year-old Grade II-listed building.

It also received £300,000 from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to continue community work during the build.

The donations follow a £22m pledge from the Welsh Government in March. The theatre has now received gifts exceeding the previous highest amount ever raised by a Welsh theatre.

Liam Evans-Ford, Theatr Clwyd’s Executive Director said: “When we started on this capital journey in 2017 we were told it was unlikely we would raise more than £2m of private investment for a theatre in Wales. 

"Due to the generous support of these lead funders we have already reached £3m. This is an empowering vote of confidence for Theatr Clwyd, our values, the quality of our theatre making, and our deeply important community work."

Museums and galleries in England are encouraged to apply to the DCMS/Wolfson Fund, opening May 9.

The partners have each contributed £2m to the fund on its 20th anniversary.

Grants are available to up to 370 eligible institutions who want to enhance display and interpretation or otherwise improve access to collections.

Arts Minister Stephen Parkinson called the scheme "a brilliant example of what can be achieved when public funding and private philanthropy come together".

The Electric Palace is facing permanent closure if a community appeal doesn't raise enough funds for it to reopen.

The independent cinema in Hastings received support from the BFI Cultural Support Fund at the start of the pandemic, but has since struggled with Covid related cancellations.

Co-Founder and Director Rebecca Marshall said it was forced to close through January as Omicron meant bookings and venue hire hit "an all time low".

A crowdfunding campaign hopes to generate enough funds to reopen the venue to reopen during its 20th anniversary year.

"We are a not-for-profit community interest company with a small team of part-time staff and 30 dedicated and brilliantly passionate volunteers... Without your support we will not be able to reopen the cinema," Marshall added.