Fundraising blog, October

Fundraising life this year has been…well, really not that fun. The environment at the moment for the arts is incredibly challenging and sometimes completely overwhelming for fundraisers, artists, and arts organisations. This year has been a year like no other. We’ve all watched as Creative Scotland closed its Open Fund, re-opened it, closed its Youth Music Initiative funds, re-opened them, and then delayed multi-year funding announcements until January 2025. On top of this, a lack of public funding has caused additional pressure on trusts and foundations. Many of these charitable organisations don’t have the administrative teams necessary to deal with this influx of applications. Some trusts and foundations have closed their doors for months at a time, stating that they need to re-assess the way they work. Others have published closing dates for funding applications but then dramatically cut that application period short, saying that there are just too many applications. All of this has created an environment that is more competitive than ever. The arts should be based on collaboration but, instead, everyone is fighting for funding and holding their strategies close to their chest.

However, even if the economic environment for the arts is challenging, I have felt exceptionally proud to watch An Tobar and Mull Theatre face these challenges head on. I joined AT&MT last year, after a decision was taken to invest more in fundraising expertise. This year that investment has started to pay dividends. I’m hugely excited that we’ve secured funding to improve our creative spaces. Thanks to the belief of funders in our ongoing work and in the potential of AT&MT, we will now have a new writers’ studio, audio production suite, and sensory room from next year. Alongside this, funders have continued to invest in our individual programmes, with funds received for projects ranging from a green education programme to new equipment for a youth electronic music-making project. We’re especially grateful to everyone who has contributed to our Mull Youth Theatre National Theatre Connections crowdfunder. With times being tough across the board, it’s been heartening to see such generous support for this project, as we strive to eliminate financial barriers to our six youth theatre members seizing this opportunity. More information can be found here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/mull-youth-theatre-national-theatre-connections. Watching these projects grow, despite the challenges, has kept the fun in fundraising.

Though uncertainty is omnipresent, particularly with Creative Scotland and the Scottish Government plans still unclear, one thing is for certain: we’ve proven time and time again that we can adapt. We’ll continue diversifying our funding streams, building new relationships, and striving to be as open and collaborative as possible.