Music Network selected for Fundraising Fellowship, Ireland

The two organisations will receive part-funding towards the employment of a Fundraising Executive and will take part in a 2-year training programme to build fundraising capacity and diversify revenue streams. The previous six participants in the Fellowship have raised over €2million for their organisations.

Business to Arts in partnership with the Department of Culture, Heritage & Gaeltacht have announced the two successful organisations who will participate in the Fundraising Fellowship, Ireland programme. After an open call for applications in November 2019, Music Network (Dublin) and Lime Tree Theatre (Limerick) have been selected.

The Fundraising Fellowship, Ireland offers both organisations matched-funding (maximum of €15,000) toward the employment of full-time fundraising or marketing & fundraising human resources, contracted over a 24-month period. The two recruited Fellows will take part in a structured programme of training and mentorship developed by Business to Arts as part of the Fellowship. The aim is to equip the recruited fellows and their organisations with skills and funding to build fundraising capacity.

The most recent three Fellows to graduate from the programme (working with Cork Film Festival, Druid & Dublin Theatre Festival) raised a combined total of €772,000 directly attributable to their role. Three case studies have been published on businesstoarts.ie highlighting the challenges, implemented strategies and outcomes of the Fellows and their organisations participating in the course. Each can be viewed here:

Druid Theatre CompanyCork Film FestivalDublin Theatre Festival

To date over €2 million has been raised by Fellows who have participated in the programme. These include Helium Arts, Temple Bar Gallery + Studios, Fishamble: A New Play Company alongside the three organisations mentioned above.

The objective of Fundraising Fellowship, Ireland is to enhance previous investment by cultural organisations in their strategic planning and fundraising. The programme helps to address the lack of human resources dedicated to fundraising in the selected arts organisations.

Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive of Business to Arts states:

“With the support of the Department of Culture, Heritage & Gaeltacht, we welcome Music Network and Lime Tree Theatre to the next round of the Fundraising Fellowship, Ireland programme. This Fellowship builds on New Stream’s priorities to address resource issues facing the cultural sector. We look forward to working with both organisations and hope our combined networks and intelligence will have a significant impact on their fundraising strategies. Both organisations selected will develop and enhance their fundraising capacities through our programme of training and mentorship”

Louise Donlon, Director, Lime Tree Theatre states:

“The Lime Tree Theatre is delighted to have been awarded this Fellowship and looks forward to working closely with Business to Arts on what will be a key element in the further development of the organisation. This role will allow the theatre to expand its business and secure investment in its cultural programmes.”

Sharon Rollston, Chief Executive, Music Network:

“Music Network is very pleased to have been selected for Fundraising Fellowship, Ireland. We look forward to working together with them to develop and diversify funding streams which will support our artistic ambitions across an exciting portfolio of programmes, including the National Musical Instrument Resource, Learning & Participation, Contemporary Irish Commissions and new work for Child & Family Audiences.”