# Young Arts Fundraisers: a new generation of cultural sector fundraisers

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/10/03/young-arts-fundraisers-new-generation-cultural-sector-fundraisers/
- Published: 2016-10-03T23:09:30+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**Launched last month, the Young Arts Fundraisers group is engaging an emerging 
generation of cultural sector fundraisers.**

 

At the Science Museum on 14th September, the word on many senior fundraisers’ lips
was: “I wish something like this had existed when I started out.”

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The occasion was the official [launch of Young Arts Fundraisers](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/09/14/professional-network-launched-early-career-cultural-fundraisers/)–
a new professional network for emerging cultural sector fundraisers.

 

![Launch of Young Arts Fundraisers network in London on 14 September 2016](https://
wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2016/10/young-arts-fundraisers-launch-3.jpg)

_Martin Kaufman at the launch of Young Arts Fundraisers. Photo: Rhian Hughes_

 

We all know that cuts in government funding are subjecting cultural organisations
across the UK to tough times, and that wise organisations respond by investing in
philanthropy as a sustainable income stream. But we don’t yet know in the cultural
sector how we can join forces to support the emerging generation of fundraisers 
as they become the highly skilled professionals who will lead their organisations
through challenges with confidence and acumen. Young Arts Fundraisers aims to equip
these new and youthful fundraisers with the cultural leadership skills required 
to do just that.

 

![Launch of Young Arts Fundraisers network in London on 14 September 2016](https://
wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2016/10/young-arts-fundraisers-launch-1.jpg)

_Photo: Rhian Hughes_

 

 

 

![Launch of Young Arts Fundraisers network in London on 14 September 2016](https://
wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2016/10/young-arts-fundraisers-launch-2.jpg)

_Photo: Rhian Hughes_

 

In January, some one hundred young arts professionals gathered at the Foundling 
Museum to discuss the future of arts fundraising in a panel discussion supported
by Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy and in partnership with Young People in the Arts
and the IoF Cultural Sector Network. This was the brainchild of Fanny Guesdon (Brunswick
Arts) Matthew Ross (University College London) and Chris Powell (London Symphony
Orchestra). It was also a pilot. The organisers wanted to test interest in what 
they suspected was a great unmet need for a peer-to-peer professional network aimed
specifically at fundraisers early in their careers, with a specialist and in-depth
focus on the cultural sector. The event was a sell-out, and the planning began.

 

Young Arts Fundraisers officially launched on 14th September with a reception hosted
by the Science Museum and supported by the Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy programme.
Over seventy arts professionals, established and emerging, heard colourful stories
that exemplified young fundraisers’ support needs from Amanda Rigali (Director of
Strategic Development, Cause4) and Martin Kaufman (Chair, IoF Cultural Sector Network).
Guests also engaged in pilot speed-mentoring sessions with senior practitioners 
from major arts organisations including the Natural History Museum and the London
Handel Festival.

 

![Launch of Young Arts Fundraisers network in London on 14 September 2016](https://
wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2016/10/young-arts-fundraisers-launch-4.jpg)

_Speed networking underway. Photo: Rhian Hughes_

 

Young Arts Fundraisers is now revealing its launch season of carefully curated monthly
events, organised by a strong committee representing the V&A, Tate, National Gallery,
Sadlers Wells, London Library, National Youth Orchestra, Serious and Artangel. Highlights
will include panel discussion events in partnership with the IoF Cultural Sector
Network, Young People in the Arts and the Foundling Museum to address pressing issues
for the sector, in addition to a series of networking drinks, exhibition private
views, and further speed-mentoring. The network is also developing a structured 
mentoring programme with the IoF Cultural Sector Network.

 

Young Arts Fundraisers has ambitious plans to develop a London, and ultimately UK-
wide membership that connects, engages and educates its diverse group of members.
It also plans to raise the profile of fundraising with the help of a growing number
of partner organisations. So, as a young generation comes to the fore in cultural
sector fundraising, they now have the network they have needed for so long, and 
we follow their progress avidly.

 

![Launch of Young Arts Fundraisers network in London on 14 September 2016](https://
wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2016/10/young-arts-fundraisers-launch-5.jpg)

_Photo: Rhian Hughes_

 

Young Arts Fundraisers’ next event is on 10th October at LIBRARY members’ club.

 

Tickets are [free and are available now](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/young-arts-fundraisers-october-drinks-and-speed-mentoring-tickets-27581874128?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&aff=escb&utm-source=cp&utm-term=listing).

 

If you would like to get involved or have any questions, co-founders [Fanny Guesdon](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/10/03/young-arts-fundraisers-new-generation-cultural-sector-fundraisers/fa***@******************rs.org)
and [Matthew Ross](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/10/03/young-arts-fundraisers-new-generation-cultural-sector-fundraisers/ma*****@******************rs.org)
will be pleased to hear from you.

 

For information on future events, sign up to [Young Arts Fundraisers’ mailing list](http://www.youngartsfundraisers.org)
or email [in**@******************rs.org](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/10/03/young-arts-fundraisers-new-generation-cultural-sector-fundraisers/in**@******************rs.org).

 

 

 

_**Alexandra Davis **is Development Manager at the [London Library](http://www.londonlibrary.co.uk/)_

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