An exclusive networking and advisory club for individuals who wish to develop their private giving interests in the arts and culture was launched by Culture Minister, Margaret Hodge, at the start of Frieze Art Fair. Developed by Arts & Business (A&B), the Culture House initiative aims to offer its members a high quality programme of events, which will allow them to engage directly with and invest in artists and performers.
This will include one-off performances, unique commissions, world premières, and high-level networking with key figures from across the worlds of the arts, media, business and politics. Membership of Culture House is by invitation only and is limited to 100 individuals. Members will receive advice on planning their giving, introductions and networking, a calendar of events and regular updates on new research into philanthropy. Colin Tweedy, Chief Executive of A&B, said, Arts & Business has set itself the task of transforming individual giving to the arts in UK. An ambitious programme will be rolled out in the next twelve months and Culture House forms part of this, unlocking future private giving by individuals. A&Bs annual Private Investment Survey shows that individual giving currently stands at £262.4m. Increasingly, wealth that was once created and held by companies now sits with individuals, partly as a result of exceptional city bonuses and the rise of private equity. Also launched this month by A&B was an online tax guide, produced in partnership with the DCMS and Deloitte, providing donors, wealth managers and arts fundraisers with information about how to give efficiently and effectively to the arts.
Published: 22-10-2007