Funding & Fundraising
Investing in creativity: A ‘smart’ solution for local regeneration
Ahead of the Autumn Budget, it is more important than ever to find cross-sector solutions to fortify the UK’s creative economy, says Jo Platt, Labour and Co-operative Party MP fo…
The squeeze: Freelancers in a polycrisis economy
Although freelance work is a term used widely in the sector and in government debates, it is not recognised in policy terms which, according to Dr Heidi Ashton from the University…
A national reputation for funding the arts
When Christina Foyle died in 1999, leaving £59m to charity, her executors set up the Foyle Foundation to disburse this to charitable causes. As the foundation nears closure, chief…
Attracting the world: Reflections on soft power and cultural philanthropy
How does culture hold influence in a world shaped by technology, geopolitics and the climate emergency? And how can philanthropy and cultural leadership help the UK ‘attract the…
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…
A new genesis for giving
Founder and chair of the Genesis Foundation, John Studzinski, thinks we should aspire to changing the world one person at a time – and we can all do that by giving, in some form.
A legacy that plays on: From a founding bequest to a community of changemakers
This week is Remember A Charity Week. To mark it, Sanpreet Janjua from Young Sounds UK, shares how the charity is nurturing a circle of legacy supporters and the transformational p…
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.
You can’t grow culture by starving the soil
Hannah Jane Walker is a freelance creative practitioner, concerned about what future changes in Arts Council England’s development fund might mean for artists.
Northern Ireland’s arts sector worse off now than before peace agreement
In 2000, political leaders described the arts as essential to building a shared future. Why, then, is Northern Ireland’s arts sector the lowest funded in 25 years? asks Cian Smyt…
Hidden funders: Is anyone out there?
The charity sector is increasingly asking one urgent question: where has all the funding gone? With a growing sense that traditional avenues of funding are drying up – or becomin…
Funding in support of excellence
Last year, the Jerwood Foundation underwent a merger enabling it to rethink its role. Its executive director, Lara Wardle says funders need to be flexible to meet sector needs.
A country house encounter
Art Fund’s Katie Lloyd has been talking to Rebecca Burton, curator and archivist at Harewood House Trust, about the impact of the Weston Loan Programme for their latest exhibitio…
Opportunities and challenges of deepening devolution
In the current operating environment, Ben Walmsley of the University of Leeds argues it is vital for cultural professionals and local authorities to seize the potential offered by…
Strategic funding partnerships: Imagining different futures
At a time of overlapping crises, the need for bold, imaginative responses has never been greater. Here Patrick Fox from Heart of Glass and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s Sophia…
How will Trump’s policies impact funding for UK arts?
In light of President Trump’s funding decisions in the USA, Cause4’s Michelle Wright and Thomas Williams explore how cuts to USAID and DEI budgets might impact the future of ar…
Arts funding: Why now is the time for philanthropy
Figurative is a not-for-profit organisation exploring inventive business and funding models for the cultural and creative sector. Associate Michael Garvey argues that being able to…
How devolution could revitalise the future of UK arts
The announcement last week of additional funding for the arts was very welcome news but, says Matthew Cleaver of Anvil Arts, more could be done to improve access to the arts across…
Making a difference in cultural policy
The Cultural Policy Unit is a new, independent think tank dedicated to formulating bold, imaginative and practical policy ideas in the service of the UK’s creative and cultural ind…
A riposte from the margins
In response to Nick Hytner’s recent dismissal of the concerns of a new generation of artists as ‘ill-informed’, Chrissie Tiller argues it is crucial to engage with their desi…
