The Arts Funding Guide
by Susan Forrester and David Lloyd (DSC, 2002 ISBN 1 903991 10 2 £18.95 [£24.40 inc. p&p*])
This is an invaluable resource for anyone working in the arts looking for information on sources of funding. It provides a comprehensive guide to both public and private support and covers all types of artform, arts organisation and arts event. There is also a very useful list of organisations that support individual artists and a bibliography of funding/sponsorship guides.
The guide is divided into four parts, UK official sources, international, support from companies and charitable trusts, each of which is then sub-divided, so it?s easy to find the type of funding you?re looking for. It?s also comprehensively indexed although, frustratingly, there is no alphabetical index. Clearly written, as well as presented, I warmed to the informed and unexpectedly lively (given the subject matter) style of the writing. The level of detail for each entry is nicely judged and I particularly liked the examples of the organisations and activity supported. This 6th edition was published in 2002 so some of the entries (especially those for the national arts councils) are out of date but this is perhaps inevitable with a guide of this kind.
A guide as comprehensive as this is likely to be of use to all arts fundraisers but novices will particularly welcome the down-to-earth guidance in the sections relating to local authorities, companies and charitable trusts. Giving you access to information on arts funding worth in excess of £585m, The Arts Funding Guide is undoubtedly excellent value for money at £18.75.
Review by Philippa Johnston, Co-ordinator of Literature Training, which provides guidance on professional development for the literature sector. w: http://www.literaturetraining.com
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