Business to Arts today announced that €4 million in new income was raised by participants in New Stream in 2014. Over the five years of New Stream project, participants have reported raising over €13.3 million.

2014 marked the end of the fifth year of operation of the New Stream project which is supported by Bank of America Merrill Lynch; The Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht; The Ireland Funds; and Business to Arts’ wider corporate membership base. 2014 also marked the culmination of the landmark initial two-year programme with the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the University of Maryland. The programme provided a teaching and consulting programme to support 23 Irish organisations in artistic planning, fundraising, marketing, strategic planning, financial planning and board development.

Speaking about the results, Business to Arts Chief Executive, Andrew Hetherington commented that “the 5^th annual assessment of New Stream serves a unique, long-term analysis of fundraising in the arts sector in Ireland. The work and changes implemented by participant arts organisations in the DeVos Ireland Programme are essential for understanding the context of arts fundraising success and challenges in an evolving political, social and economic context.”

Among key findings, the annual assessment reports that participants in the DeVos Ireland programme:

• are planning their artistic programmes further in advance, with the majority no longer planning less than 12 months in advance
• are improving their marketing activities, resulting in an increase in earned revenue (box office receipts, merchandise sales, rentals, etc.)
• 33% of participating organisations increased human resources dedicated to fundraising
• The majority have increased both the number of individual donors contributing to their organisations, and the revenue contributed from those donors
• Where Boards exist among participant organisations, they report a significant increase in board engagement
• 83% of participating organisations began, revised, or completed a Strategic Plan

Business to Arts are currently seeking applications for a 18 month programme with the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the University of Maryland commencing in April 2015. Closing date for applications in March 5, 2015. Details of the application process can be downloaded here.

The annual Assessment of New Stream (2013/14) can be downloaded here.

Capacity Building 18 Months Intensive

(April 2015 – October 2016)

A Partnership with the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the University of Maryland*

We are delighted to announce an extension of Business to Arts’ New Stream Partnership with the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the University of Maryland *(DeVos Institute). From 2012 – 2014 a total of 23 organisations completed either 1 or 2 years of an intensive Capacity Building Programme. The programme saw significantly positive results for many in the areas of Strategic Planning, Artistic Programming, Marketing, Board engagement, Management and Fundraising.

The newly extended 18 month programme commencing in April 2016 has been developed following assessment of the outcomes of the first two years of the DeVos Ireland Programme. Both the original and extended programmes are supported by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, the Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht, The Ireland Funds, and the wider Business to Arts member network.

Key Dates: 

Application Closing Date:  Thurs 05 March ’15

Notification of selected participants:  Mon 16 March ’15

First seminar:  Thurs 16 April ’15

This extended programme will focus on strategy development, implementation and capacity building in an organisational context, and support two types of arts organisations in the Business to Arts network:

• Organisations new to the DeVos Institute process
• Organisations that have completed either one or two years of the DeVos Ireland Programme

Working with the DeVos Institute, Business to Arts will deliver an 18-month Capacity Building Programme comprising seminars, phone consultations and in-person meetings to support a total of TEN organisations.

Since its founding in 2001, the DeVos Institute has served over 1,000 institutions from over 80 countries. While environments, objectives, and disciplines vary, each of these clients share the desire to create, market, and sustain exemplary cultural programmes.

We invite Irish arts organisations to apply for this 18-month long opportunity to further leverage the expertise of leaders in the field, both nationally and internationally; and to develop and implement strategies to strengthen the sustainability of your organisation now and in the years to come.

Participation Cost

The cost for participation in the DeVos Ireland Programme is 60% subsidised by the New Stream project, supported by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, The Department of Arts, Heritage & Gaeltacht & Business to Arts’ Corporate Membership. The balance of fees applicable is based on the annual turnover of each participating organisation. Full details of cost are contained in the application form.

This is a competitive application process. Selection will be made based on the content of the response to this Application Form document. No further application information will be sought.

As part of the extensive refurbishment of its client reception area on the 6^th floor of its offices on Earlsfort Terrace, Deloitte Ireland is keen to enhance the environment with a number of artworks that will complement the modern and improved look of its meeting room suite. Deloitte is also looking to grow its collection of art associated with Irish-based artists. Working in association with Business to Arts, Deloitte will host an open call to artists, galleries, and representative bodies to submit work from which they will select for purchase a number of artworks.

Deloitte has nearly 2,000 people in Ireland providing audit, tax, consulting, and corporate finance services to public and private clients spanning multiple industries. With a globally connected network of member firms in more than 150 countries, Deloitte brings world-class capabilities and high-quality service to clients, delivering the insights they need to address their most complex business challenges.

Following an extended period when the Irish art market has suffered both from a reduction in state and local funding, along with a significant reduction in the resources of collectors, it is hoped Deloitte’s engagement with contemporary visual arts in Ireland will help in furthering conversations in the business sector and in the media about the arts and its benefit to business in Ireland.

Deloitte is inviting Irish artists, galleries, and artists based in Ireland for three years or more, to submit work for consideration by the panel of local experts. It is intended that approximately 10 artworks from multiple disciplines will be selected and purchased by Deloitte and become part of Deloitte’s art collection.

For more information, please download the Submission Criteria & FAQ and Entry Form.