Black Country Funding Network for Arts and Culture

With support from Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy  CBC has been able to set up and explore possibilities for a free funding network for arts and culture across the Black Country. In these challenging times the network can connect those fundraising across the region and provide support. The idea is to:

• Establish a formal network and resource in the area of fundraisers from arts/culture organisations. This will be virtually at the moment and then developed in the future

• Provide the space, dialogue and opportunities for future partnership working

• Avoid the duplication of funding requests to funding bodies and offer a more joined up approach – complementary not competitive

• Support and connect fundraisers who may be the lone person responsible within an organisation or event

• Support other roles who fundraise out of necessity e.g. Creative Directors, Producers who have fundraising as an informal or ‘expected’ part of their job

• Share practice and knowledge of funding e.g. bid writing, models of full cost recovery, disseminate learning from any training

• Support organisations through these uncertain times, to maintain the funding they have in place and discuss the process of recovery

•  Build capacity, knowledge and skills in the Black Country which is an underrepresented area in terms of funding

“If you want to go faster, go alone; if you want to go further, go together”

Saffi Price, Wolverhampton Voluntary Sector Council

The network has met and connected through three Zoom sessions since September and these are available to view.

Session 1 - Building Back Better – recorded 3rd September 2020
The session is a mix of presentations by fundraising consultant Sarah Gee and break out groups for people to get to know each other better and discuss certain questions and solutions.  We examined the notion of ‘Team Now’ and ‘Team Next’ and also how to prioritise projects and fundraising bids, allowing for thinking on how to move forward.

Session 2 - Imagining the Unknown – recorded 21st September 2020
Again, the session is a mix of presentations by Sarah to the whole group and discussions in smaller groups. The focus was on imagining the future and exercises around how we might adapt our thinking to the new challenges.

Session 3 – Partnership Funding – recorded 8th October 2020 as part of the Black Country Business Festival – this recording includes subtitles
Examining the elements of a successful partnership and tips and advice from members of the network involved in successful partnership bids.

(Please note the break out rooms are not recorded)

In 2021 we hope to meet up around 3 times throughout the year with guest speakers and topics relevant to the network.

If you are an artist, arts or culture organisation working or touring in Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton and you would like to know more about joining the network please contact Yvonne Gregory Fundraising Manager for CBC at yvonne@creativeblackcountry.co.uk