# Arts trust fundraising symposium held in Belfast - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/03/26/arts-trust-fundraising-symposium-held-in-belfast/ - Published: 2019-03-26T16:01:00+00:00 - Author: Howard Lake **A symposium on arts funding was held in Belfast to discuss building strong funder- applicant relationships.** It is important to forge strong funder-applicant relationships and to communicate, update and clarify before applying to charitable trusts, a symposium on arts funding heard in Belfast recently. The event, [Arts and Business Northern Ireland](http://www.artsandbusinessni.org.uk) Trusts and Foundations Symposium, was attended by eight trusts and foundations, including representatives from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, BBC Children in Need, Halifax Foundation, The Wolfson Foundation, Ulster Garden Villages, Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and DWF Foundation. ## Advertisement Many of the trusts in attendance have been major funders of the arts in Northern Ireland. James Magowan, Northern Ireland Development Officer at Association of Charitable Foundations, offered key advice under the talk, ‘Follow up. Follow through’ while Brona Whittaker, Arts Manager at Arts & Business NI, reiterated that their organisation supports members in their applications to trusts who find the task time consuming. Ms Whittaker encouraged members of their organisation to avail of the resources provided in the member only section of their website and reach out for support while crafting and refining applications. Damian Smyth, representing the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, pointed out that the spending on arts per head per capita in Northern Ireland is £5.37 whereas in other parts of the UK this figure rises to £10.58 per person. The symposium discussed Northern Ireland arts organisation’s main concerns, including the ability to apply to trusts and foundations to cover core costs. ## Arts & Business Award Meanwhile, the Allianz Arts & Business NI Business of the Year Award 2019 went to Forestside Shopping Centre for its partnerships with several professional music festivals across N Ireland and its ongoing commitment to supporting emerging young musicians and songwriters in NI. The Allianz Arts & Business NI Arts Award 2019 was won by Belfast Photo Festival for its progressive and creative approach to business partnership. * **[Illuminated River Foundation launches fund for community groups near the Thames](https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/07/31/illuminated-river-foundation-launches-fund-for-community-groups-near-the-thames/)**( 31 July 2019) * **[Applications now open for Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy’s 2020 Fellowship Programme](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/01/27/applications-now-open-for-arts-fundraising-philanthropys-2020-fellowship-programme/)**( 27 January 2020) * **[20,000 political books to be donated via horizontal Big Ben model](https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/07/02/20000-political-books-to-be-donated-via-horizontal-big-ben-model/)**( 2 July 2021)