A new genesis for giving

Arts professional: those two words are central to the ethos and mission of the Genesis Foundation, which turns 25 next year. It was a conversation with a celebrated arts professional – actress, director and activist Dame Janet Suzman – that prompted me to establish the foundation. She pointed out that, increasingly, it was only young people born into privilege who could hope for a creative career.

The foundation has always nurtured the careers of exceptional emerging artists, predominantly in the performing arts. Over time its scope has expanded to embrace people whose ambitions – creative or managerial – lie behind the scenes.

We can trust in the talent of the foundation’s beneficiaries, as they are carefully selected by experts with a wealth of experience in their creative speciality. Our investment, totalling some £25 million over the past quarter century, is geared to the development, rounding out and reinforcement of that talent. Projects and programmes in the foundation’s name encompass formal or on-the-job training, mentoring, work opportunities, commissions, and the cultivation and leveraging of networks.

We also know we can trust in the inspiring leaders of our partner organisations, currently the National Theatre (with its own Genesis programme and as a contributor to the Genesis Theatre Design programme), Almeida Theatre, The Sixteen, Royal Academy of Arts and Jewish Literary Foundation.

Channelling your passions

Artists and creative professionals are driven by their talent and passion. My conviction is that talent and passion should similarly drive philanthropic action. This theme is central to my forthcoming book A Talent for Giving*. As I write in the first chapter, the book “focuses on ways to develop your inherent generosity and empathy. It’s about tapping into your impulses for making the world a better place. It’s about channelling your passions – even your anger – into a sense of vocation, so that you can apply your talents with real purpose and play a part in creating a more generous society.”

My own giving is motivated by my passionate belief in the primacy of human dignity. When that is compromised, I get angry. It bothers me deeply that creative potential is often wasted for lack of a ‘bank of mum and dad’. Any professional in this sector will appreciate the prescience of Suzman’s original observation, but the Genesis Foundation continues to work hard to remedy the situation – in its chosen niches, at least. My firm belief is – as Mother Teresa once told me – you can change the world one person at a time.

Continues…

John Studzinski (front right) with Genesis Sixteen. Photo: Leahairphotography

But there is more to this than righting social wrongs; it comes down to the common good. We all stand to miss out if exceptional talent fails to be realised. The work of artists benefits society, and not just in terms of the multi-billion economic value that the creative industries generate.

Their talent can open our minds and enhance our lives in so many ways. Beyond the here and now, it feeds into the cultural memory and social cohesion of the future, producing a legacy that should not be underestimated. I’m proud to know that the Genesis Foundation, thanks to its ‘in the round’ approach and the constant evolution of its thinking, maintains a strong record in launching, supporting and sustaining creative careers.

Funding transformed into ‘treasure’

We have learned a lot over our first quarter century. Trial and error have played their part, but the validity of our practice is exemplified in our long-standing partnership with The Sixteen, the internationally renowned choral ensemble.

Independent and entrepreneurial, The Sixteen was founded in 1979 by its conductor, Harry Christophers. It has premiered more than 30 Genesis Foundation commissions – sacred works by both established and emerging composers – and since 2011 the Genesis Sixteen training programme, which is fully funded for participants, has reinforced the professional credentials of hundreds of outstanding young choral singers.

Genesis Sixteen is a fully-funded training programme, part of a long term partnership between the Genesis Foundation and The Sixteen

Many have gone on to become arts entrepreneurs in their own right, building their singing careers, usually as freelancers, establishing performing groups, and enriching communities through participative music-making.

This shows what can happen when funding, energised and enlivened through purposeful application of time and talent, is transformed into what I call treasure. Money becomes a new kind of currency, assuming multiple forms, producing virtuous circles, a positive domino effect, and multiple benefits for the economy and society.

Informal generosity of individuals

It is enough to aspire to changing the world one person at a time. We can all undertake to do that through giving in some form. Charitable foundations play a crucial role in the cultural economy, but so does the informal generosity of countless individuals.

Generosity is not confined to financial donations: volunteering and the sharing of expertise, especially if regular and structured, have a value all their own. The essence of giving lies in making constructive use of time and talent – and everybody has a distinctive talent to offer.

As an arts professional yourself, active in an environment where public funding and infrastructure can no longer be taken for granted, you will already understand the need for independent, entrepreneurial action. In the cause of the common good, we must each undertake to make every penny count, but also every moment and every skill at our disposal, and every insight that we can be generous enough to share.

*A Talent for Giving by John Studzinski is published by Bloomsbury Business on 18 September.