Achates Philanthropy Prize Ambassadors Launch Brand New Bursaries

The Achates Philanthropy Prize is delighted to introduce the Achates Philanthropy Prize Ambassadors, a newly-established group of experienced arts professionals, who are launching the first-ever Achates Philanthropy Prize Bursaries giving five UK arts organisations a bespoke masterclass to support the development of their fundraising.

The Achates Philanthropy Prize Bursaries is the first in a series of national initiatives to be launched and led by the Ambassadors, supported by the Trustees of the Achates Philanthropy Foundation and the Directors of Achates Philanthropy Ltd, in response to the commitment of this group of sector leaders.

Born out of the groundswell of support for the Achates Philanthropy Prize in 2018, this group of passionate and experienced arts professionals will lead on the development and delivery of innovative new models to support the continued growth of cultural sector fundraising. United in the belief that current funding infrastructures are failing too many arts organisations across the country, the Ambassadors will develop and champion a new, resilient and inclusive vision of the arts ecosystem based on a community of grassroots supporters.

The Achates Philanthropy Prize Ambassadors are: Suzanne Alleyne, Rose Goddard, Nancy Hitzig, Zak Hulstrom, Sarah Maguire, Renu Mehto, Kane Moore, Clare O'Hara, Sally Pennington, Annemarie Shillito and Rossella Traverso.

The Ambassadors will lead the delivery of the inaugural Bursaries, offering five organisations a bespoke day-long masterclass on cultural sector fundraising, tailored to their specific needs in infrastructure and skills development. The Bursaries will be awarded to organisations who have not been selected for the 2019 Achates Philanthropy Prize shortlists but have shown considerable potential in their audience strategy and fundraising activity. In addition, the Ambassadors will produce an accompanying report that will inform the future development of the Prize through its findings. A representative from the Ambassadors will be appointed to the Board of the Achates Philanthropy Foundation later this year.

Achates Philanthropy Foundation Chair, Caroline McCormick, said: "Since launching the Achates Philanthropy Prize four years ago, it's been invigorating to discover so many colleagues in the sector who feel as passionately as we - the Trustees of the Achates Philanthropy Foundation - do about the need for a seismic shift in approaches to fundraising. By supporting this first national initiative of the Prize Ambassadors, the Trustees of the Foundation and the Directors of Achates Philanthropy Ltd. are investing in a community of people who believe passionately in the need for a resilient, robust and future-proof arts ecology. We look forward to shaping the future of the Prize together with them".

Achates Philanthropy Prize Ambassador, Annemarie Shillito, said: "The Plough Arts Centre, based in rural northern Devon, has been shortlisted three times for the Achates Philanthropy Prize and won the Individual Philanthropy Award in 2017. This was a huge boost for us and enabled a whole new tranche of individual bursaries for children in hardship. I now feel honoured to be joining the Ambassadors team, introducing new organisations to the possibilities the Prize presents. We will be working regionally and offering our individual support to organisations applying and are happy to talk through the process, which is very easy and based on telling the story of a first-time cultural supporter. The Ambassadors will also lead on tailored fundraising masterclasses for those who don't quite make the shortlist. This is such an inclusive, win-win process, which I know will lead to benefits for a much wider group than ever before".

The winners of the inaugural Bursaries will be announced alongside the winners of this year's Achates Philanthropy Prize at a special event at Rich Mix on Tuesday 19 November 2019.

This year's Call for Entries is now open until Monday 16 September. For more information and to find out how to apply, please visit: www.achatesprize.co.uk.

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