Business Models & Earned Income
Raising ticket income sustainably
Pricing strategy continues to challenge venues trying to raise income without losing the trust and diversity of their audiences, an issue Robin Cantrill-Fenwick of Baker Richards h…
How touring musicians can earn income on the go
What are the challenges of life as a touring musician? Is it possible to develop sustainable income streams on the road? Daniel Groves, a startup specialist, has some answers.
Dynamic approach to nurturing debut talent
Theatre503’s executive director Emily Carewe addresses the paradox of how a theatre that only works with debut playwrights loses the very value it creates.
Aligning the psychology of giving with the less glamorous side of showbiz
In a bid to maximise regular giving, artistic director of London’s Park Theatre, Jez Bond, has been experimenting with new ways of engaging with ticket buyers, and to good effect…
Do your potential donors know you’re a charity?
Lauren James of Splitpixel is surprised how many arts charities fail to play up their charitable status, despite the many benefits it can bring.
The value of venue hire
Find a cultural organisation with a building and more than likely you’ll find a ‘hire us’ call to action on their website, writes Carolyn Ehman, head of business development…
The theatre tax relief cashflow puzzle
Figurative’s Rachel Green has been exploring the Theatre Tax Relief scheme. She thinks her organisation’s new initiative might be just the ticket to help theatres navigate the…
The challenges of operating a free-to-access museum
It is possible to operate a free-to-access museum without government funding, but it comes with significant challenges, as Trish Johnson of Clifton Suspension Bridge and Museum exp…
The business model of place
With the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget committing to an as-yet-unspecified ‘package of cultural infrastructure funding’, Jason Jones-Hall unpacks some of the learning and challe…
How to create a business that thrives and survives
In our series exploring new business models, Gill Wildman, director of Upstarter incubator, argues they need to be designed in a way that aligns with creative practice and values.
How to solve a problem like affordability
Four years ago, Battersea Arts Centre launched a Pay What You Can scheme to widen access to live theatre. Robbie Kings has been evaluating the scheme.
The search for new funding and business models
There has been a lot of talk about the future of UK arts funding over the summer. Fran Sanderson has been assessing various funding streams to find ways to maximise their impact.
A fresh blueprint for funding arts organisations
Arts organisations are only too aware of the limitations of short-term funding. But, in Northern Ireland, a pioneering financial programme provides a fresh blueprint for future fun…
What the arts can learn from LEGO
We've come a long way from the difficulties of recent years, and some key metrics are starting to show a positive trend. But we’re not out of the woods yet, writes David…
Philanthropy is about empathy
In the first of our series looking at the role of philanthropy in arts funding, Caroline McCormick of the Cultural Philanthropy Foundation argues that the financial plight of our c…
Philanthropy in 2024: More questions than answers
As activity this year gathers pace, Michelle Wright explores the many quandaries arts organisations have to navigate in deciding where to focus their fundraising efforts.
The art of the turnaround
In light of the huge challenges that so many arts and culture organisations have faced in recent years, Watershed’s Clare Reddington shares five ‘rules’ for turni…
A brighter future for entrepreneurs and opportunity-seekers
Now more than ever it’s important to focus on the things that really matter, to free ourselves of distractions and to identify earned income opportunities, says Robin Cantril…
Trustee matchmaking
Many arts organisations struggle to find high-quality trustees, particularly ones with digital or business expertise. A new matchmaking service is responding to this challenge, as…
Scottish arts organisations facing financial distress
Fiona McKerrell, Carissa Najafian and Kirsty Fryer are lawyers with extensive experience of working with organisations facing financial challenges. Here they share top tips fo…
