# Catalyst Fund to help enhance fundraising for new music

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2013/05/10/catalyst-fund-help-enhance-fundraising-new-music/
- Published: 2013-05-10T06:42:39+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

A partnership of music organisations has received funding from [Arts Council England’s Catalyst Fund](http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/our-investment/funding-programmes/catalyst-arts/catalyst-arts-building-fundraising-capacity/)
to help them transform fundraising for commissioning new pieces of music by British
composers.

Led by [Sound and Music](http://www.soundandmusic.org), the national organisation
for new music, the consortium consists of London Sinfonietta, Cafe Oto, and Huddersfield
Contemporary Music Festival.

The award of £129,500 will enable each organisation to explore and test new approaches
to fundraising, from online and mobile giving campaigns, through crowdfunding, to
enabling mid-level donors to get involved in commissioning new works.

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The funding is given on the grounds that findings from the two-year project will
be shared with the wider sector.

Susanna Eastburn, Chief Executive of Sound and Music, commented: "Commissioning 
new work is an essential part of the continuing health and vitality of music in 
Britain… We think there is the potential to unlock more individual philanthropic
support for commissioning, and now, with the support of the Catalyst grant, the 
consortium partners can work together to make this a reality for themselves and,
ultimately, for others in the sector."

## Catalyst Fund grants

Consortia were asked to apply for grants of between £60,000 and £150,000 for activity
over two years. Arts Council England received 164 applications to the scheme and
awarded 62 grants which will benefit 218 organisations.

Unlike previous Catalyst schemes, this scheme did not require applicants to raise
match funding during the period of the grant.

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