NPAC is partnering with Big Give, the UK’s most successful match funding platform, on its inaugural arts-focused campaign, Arts for Impact, which will raise funds for 239 charities across the UK that are having a social impact. Within the campaign, different art forms are being funded, including music, theatre, dance, visual arts, museums, galleries and literature.
Key points
● The campaign is looking to raise £2.5 million – match funding of £1.25m already pledged
● Charities working in music, theatre, dance, visual arts, museums, galleries, art and literature are all supported through Arts for Impact
● Arts for Impact is a Partnership between New Philanthropy for Arts & Culture and Big Give to stimulate support for much-needed charities
● 76% of the funding is going to charity projects working in regions outside of London.
Big Give received 346 charity applications; of those, 331 met the campaign’s eligibility criteria. The portfolio of high-impact charities selected have arts and culture as their core mission and are making a transformational societal impact on the lives of the people engaging with the charity. The charities taking part have been allocated match funding totalling £1.25m from Big Give’s champion donors, including The Reed Foundation, Arts Council England (via Stoke Creates), West Midlands Combined Authority and many generous individual philanthropists. The campaign will see the public’s generosity multiplied as donations to the participating charities between 19th and 26th March are doubled by the Arts for Impact match fund.
Big Give and NPAC have focused on ensuring that funds and support are being spread across the country and to as wide a group of charities as possible, particularly those that are small-scale. 159 (or 66%) of the charities participating have an income of £1m or less. 76% of funding is going to charity projects working in regions outside of London. Working with Big Give, NPAC has been helping to secure match funding and is supporting arts organisations in preparing and running their campaigns, with a specific focus on generating place-based philanthropic support. Big Give is also providing marketing resources, webinars and support to charities, helping them to maximise their fundraising effort and get ready for the campaign week.
Sir Vernon Ellis, Chair of NPAC, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting so many charities taking part in this new arts campaign. The arts and culture sector has long had a significant role to play within the fabric of our society, and it’s great to know that the campaign will benefit such a broad range of organisations up and down the country as well as increase awareness of the significant impact arts organisations can make in their local communities.”
Alex Day, Managing Director of Big Give, said: “This is the first time we have run a campaign focused solely on the arts, and I am thrilled by the level of interest it has already received from charities and our match funding partners. NPAC has been invaluable in getting this off the ground, and I am sure the campaign will be a success, as has been the case with our other dedicated environmental and female-focused campaigns.”
Tonya Nelson, Executive Director, Enterprise and Innovation, Arts Council England, said: “This wonderful initiative will enable new partnerships and income for smaller arts and cultural organisations. We are excited to see how the campaign inspires individuals to donate, powered by the incentive of doubling their donations through the support of Big Give.”
