MEDIA RELEASE COURTESY OF: THE ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND

Subsidy Junkies? Symposium - a day of practical survival strategies for arts fundraising. How can the arts sector build and sustain income when faced with public spending cuts?

This one-day symposium, presented by Arts & Business, brings together fundraising and development professionals working in the arts and cultural sectors to explore this changing landscape, learn practical survival strategies, seek out opportunities and generate new ideas to stay financially healthy.

With public spending under scrutiny and confirmed decreases in private sector investment, the ability of arts bodies to secure investment is under renewed pressure. Arts & Business launches its first annual symposium, “Subsidy Junkies?” to help arts fundraising practitioners meet these challenges. This day-long event will promote best practice and sustainable strategies to support fundraisers in addressing the changing funding environment.

The agenda will cover various business models in the arts; approaches to encouraging boards to engage with fundraising, alongside interactive workshops on pitching to businesses, securing major gifts and the importance of looking after your supporters.

Verity Haines, Arts & Business National Arts Director, said:

“This Arts & Business Symposium will provide a broad range of sustainable solutions for arts and cultural organisations, to help them diversify their fundraising strategies during the difficult period ahead. This is a pivotal moment for the sector. Our industry event will inspire participants to explore all income streams and opportunities, to develop new and exciting campaigns”.

Who should attend? This symposium is designed for development or fundraising practitioners working in the arts and cultural sectors.

Programme The day will include panel discussions looking at different business models in the arts and getting boards engaged with fundraising, along with interactive workshops on pitching to businesses, major gifts ("making the ask") and the importance of looking after your supporters ("donor care").

Lunch and tea and coffee will be provided and there will be an opportunity at the end of the day to network with peers and presenters.

Speakers and Presenters

Peter Aspden - Financial Times Alyssa Bonic - Sky Arts
Peter Buchan - BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art
Bruce Carnegie-Brown - Shakespeare's Globe Trust Lucy Cooke - National Maritime Museum
Stephen Crocker - The Lowry Helen Ellis - Prudential
Keri Elmsley - United Visual Artists Ginny Greenwood - Tricycle Theatre
Donald MacDonald, CBE - Arts & Business Prince of Wales Medal for Arts Philanthropy 2009 Recipient
Richard Mantle - Opera North Alec Reed - The Big Give Lady Solti - Arts & Business Goodman Award 2009 Recipient
Tim Stockil - Creative Intelligence Vanessa Swann - Cockpit Arts with more to be confirmed

Date: Friday, 26 March 2010, 10:30 - 16:30
Venue: King's Place 90 York Way N1 9AG London United Kingdom
Cost: £80 (including VAT) for Arts & Business Arts Members £150 (including VAT) for non-members
Booking: Please book online through the Eventbrite website here.