Large decreases in business, charitable and individual giving to the arts have been revealed by Arts & Business’s (A&B) report, ‘Market Trends 2009’. Based on responses from 250 arts organisations, most of them small to medium-sized, A&B has identified a fall of 40% in public funding, particularly from local authorities, and drops of 63%, 43% and 55% respectively in funds from businesses, individuals, and trusts and foundations. However, attendances and ticket sales have held up, with 21% of respondents reporting an increase and 20% a decrease. Figures on café and gift shop takings show a smaller number reporting an increase but a similar number reporting a decrease. In response to the recession, arts organisations have undertaken a range of measures, including increased fundraising efforts, (56%), scaling back their programmes (40%) or postponing projects (20%). A few are introducing salary freezes. The report concludes that “most organisations think that demand for their services will increase though it will be harder for them to continue providing quality content in the quantity that they did previously”. The report also includes the business perspective, but A&B received only 66 responses from businesses, most of which are A&B members, and most of them from the creative sector. The report points to the importance placed by these businesses on improving their staff morale by engagement in the arts, marketing and corporate social responsibility.
w: http://www.aandb.org.uk
Published: 04-05-2009