Report on opportunities to grow private funding for the arts

Report on opportunities to grow private funding for the arts

Artspace is very pleased to release a report into private funding opportunities for small to medium scale visual arts organisations in New Zealand.

Against the backdrop of reduced public funding for visual arts organisations, Artspace Director Caterina Riva recognised the need for further exploration into and development of funding opportunities from the private sector in New Zealand.

Artspace invited independent consultant Stephanie Post to carry out research that considers the role small-scale visual art organisations play in the arts ecology of New Zealand, and how these could open up prospects to attract new income from the private sector.

In the resulting report Post argues a case for support based on the specificity of an organisation such as Artspace, and the intangible yet seminal contribution that such small-scale organisations make to the social and cultural life of New Zealand and beyond.

Post moves from existing studies on private sector philanthropy done in New Zealand in 2010 and compares them with overseas examples and case studies from like-minded organisations primarily from the UK and Australia to illustrate how they have identified and developed funding opportunities. She also examines how organisations have sought support from individuals in a number of ways, including: project based support, support through patron programmes and crowd funding initiatives.

Staying Alive: Some thoughts on opportunities for private funding for small scale visual arts organisations in New Zealand is now available to the public.

The commission of the report goes hand in hand with the implementation of a new Artspace benefactor programme, which was launched in April. The programme is designed especially to engage individuals and philanthropic groups, and asks them to contribute financial support directly towards Artspace’s unique, risk-taking artistic programme.

“Artspace’s Benefactors Programme+ has resulted from a lengthy process, closely examining this organisation, its core beliefs and its many faceted outputs. We received extremely positive feedback during the launch of this new programme and were amazed and gratified by the response of the attendees and the early adopters with over $20,000 raised on the night, which will have a truly significant impact on our work.

"Artspace is a leader in the visual arts sector, committed to producing a risk-taking, free exhibition programme which builds artists' careers, and we’re thrilled that there is an advocacy group of generous and dedicated people who recognize this and are willing to support” says Caterina Riva.

Staying Alive: Some thoughts on opportunities for private funding for small scale visual arts organisations in New Zealand
Written by Stephanie Post
Designed by Amy Yalland, Index
Commissioned by Artspace
Available online http://artspace.org.nz/join/privatefundingreport.asp

More information about the Artspace Benefactors Programme+ is available on the Artspace website http://artspace.org.nz/join/benefactorprogramme.asp

ENDS

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