Business Models & Earned Income

The business model of place

With the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget committing to an as-yet-unspecified ‘package of cultural infrastructure funding’, Jason Jones-Hall unpacks some of the learning and challe…

How to create a business that thrives and survives

In our series exploring new business models, Gill Wildman, director of Upstarter incubator, argues they need to be designed in a way that aligns with creative practice and values.

How to solve a problem like affordability

Four years ago, Battersea Arts Centre launched a Pay What You Can scheme to widen access to live theatre. Robbie Kings has been evaluating the scheme.

The search for new funding and business models

There has been a lot of talk about the future of UK arts funding over the summer. Fran Sanderson has been assessing various funding streams to find ways to maximise their impact.

A fresh blueprint for funding arts organisations

Arts organisations are only too aware of the limitations of short-term funding. But, in Northern Ireland, a pioneering financial programme provides a fresh blueprint for future fun…

What the arts can learn from LEGO

We've come a long way from the difficulties of recent years, and some key metrics are starting to show a positive trend. But we’re not out of the woods yet, writes David…

Philanthropy is about empathy

In the first of our series looking at the role of philanthropy in arts funding, Caroline McCormick of the Cultural Philanthropy Foundation argues that the financial plight of our c…

Philanthropy in 2024: More questions than answers

As activity this year gathers pace, Michelle Wright explores the many quandaries arts organisations have to navigate in deciding where to focus their fundraising efforts.

The art of the turnaround

In light of the huge challenges that so many arts and culture organisations have faced in recent years, Watershed’s Clare Reddington shares five ‘rules’ for turni…

A brighter future for entrepreneurs and opportunity-seekers

Now more than ever it’s important to focus on the things that really matter, to free ourselves of distractions and to identify earned income opportunities, says Robin Cantril…

Trustee matchmaking

Many arts organisations struggle to find high-quality trustees, particularly ones with digital or business expertise. A new matchmaking service is responding to this challenge, as…

Scottish arts organisations facing financial distress

Fiona McKerrell, Carissa Najafian and Kirsty Fryer are lawyers with extensive experience of working with organisations facing financial challenges. Here they share top tips fo…

New funding landscape for the arts

Impact investment is an ideal partner for the arts sector where taking creative risks, experimentation and imagination are second nature, writes Fran Sanderson.

Spending down: Opportunity or risk?

In spending down their assets, trusts and foundations are making a strategic change of direction which could pose a threat to the charity sector, says Ben Wilson.

Post-NPO life

Following the closure of the Bridge network earlier this year, and an unsuccessful bid for ACE funding, Nick Owen of The Mighty Creatives still thinks there’s life after fund…

Democratising theatre with VR

Kelman and Gemma Greig-Kicks are on a mission to use virtual reality technology to democratise theatre and provide new income streams for creators.

Is money a help or hindrance in fulfilling potential?

While not making him rich, Kevin Osborne’s early career earnings in the music industry were enough to allow him career breaks which were important learning opportunities.

Creativity, culture and capital

Two years on from the launch of an international initiative exploring the creative economy for sustainable development, Fran Sanderson reflects on how impact capital can be a vital…

Navigating the challenges of digitisation and museums

Digitising collections is an ongoing challenge for museums, as evidenced in the latest National Museum Partnership report. Fiona Morris and Charlotte Morgan discuss the potent…