Accenture ‘Women on Walls’ 2016 portrait commission. From Top LtoR: Shelia Tinney & Francoise Henry From Bottom LtoR: Phyllis Clinch & Eleanor Knott. Artist: Vera

Through our partnership with Accenture and the Royal Irish Academy on ‘Women on Walls’, we aim to make women leaders visible and inspire future generations.

Portraits of 12 female academic leaders, which are the first to hang on the walls of the Royal Irish Academy, were unveiled today. The Accenture Women on Walls campaign features individual portraits of the first four women to be admitted to the academy alongside a group painting of eight of today’s leading female scientists. The finished artworks, by Vera Klute and Blaise Smith, are the first portraits of female subjects to be featured on the Academy’s walls in its 230-year history. Business to Arts, working in partnership with Accenture facilatated the commisioning process.

The campaign originated when Accenture executives were attending a meeting in the Royal Irish Academy to discuss addressing the gender gap in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM).   On leaving the meeting, they asked “Where are the women?” as they surveyed the hall dominated by traditional male portraits.

The portraits are now available to view by the public at Academy House, 19 Dawson Street, Dublin 2. They can also be viewed online at Accenture.com/womenonwalls, along with the full story of the campaign and background on the academics, scientists and artists.

If you are interested in commissioning a portrait and need some advice contact Hannah at hannah@businesstoarts.ie and read or top tips for commissioning an artist here.

Eight Scientists From LtoR Professor Emma Teeling, Professor Catríona Lally, Professor Debra Laefer, Professor Lydia Lynch, Associate Professor Aoife Gowen, Dr Maria McNamara, Professor Sarah McCormack , Professor Aoife McLysaght. Artist Blaise Smith

Accenture ‘Women on Walls’ 2016 portrait commission. From Top LtoR: Shelia Tinney & Francoise Henry From Bottom LtoR: Phyllis Clinch & Eleanor Knott. Artist: Vera Klute

Over the past 30 years, Business to Arts has been involved in the commissioning of artists for various projects including working with daa on the annual Allianz Business to Arts Awards sculpture, Dublin Port Perspectives Open Call for Artists and most recently the portraits unveiled at the Royal Irish Academy for Accenture’s ‘Women on Walls’ project. We often get asked for guidance on how to commission an artist. So, if you are thinking of commissioning a portrait, here are some things to think about:

• Purpose: Who or what is the portrait for?
• Location: Are there any special requirements? Dimensions of the work, the location where the work will be displayed, the function of the work, any materials that cannot be used?
• Budget: What is the budget? Does this include installation and/or delivery
• Time: When do you need it for – give yourself plenty of time as some artworks can be time-consuming to make!

If you are interested in commissioning a portrait and need some advice please contact Hannah at hannah@businesstoarts.ie. For more in-depth advice click here.

Business to Arts Picture Conor McCabe Photography

Today, Business to Arts in partnership with Dublin City Council and Dublin’s Culture Connects announced the four selected cultural organisations that will participate in a 24-month Fundraising Fellowship, Dublin programme for new Fundraising Executives. Dublin Theatre Festival, Temple Bar Gallery + Studios, Fishamble: The New Play Company & Helium Arts will each be part-funded to recruit a Fundraising Fellow who will take part in the programme. Recruitment for the Fellow positions will commence in January 2017.

Fundraising Fellowship, Dublin offers each of the selected organisations up to €30,000 toward the employment of full-time fundraising or marketing & fundraising human resources, contracted over a 24-month period. The four recruited Fellows will take part in a structured programme of training and mentorship worth an additional €15,000, developed by Business to Arts and Dublin City Council as part of the Fellowship. They will receive fundraising training and mentorship from experienced national and international leaders inside and outside the arts sector. The aim is to equip these Fellows and their cultural organisations with skills to build capacity in their own organisations and subsequently share the skills and knowledge with local smaller organisations. Business to Arts are currently seeking Dublin-based community organisations interested in learning from and partnering with the selected organisations.

The objective of Fundraising Fellowship, Dublin is to enhance the investment by arts, cultural and community organisations in their strategic planning and fundraising capacity. The programme addresses the lack of human resources dedicated to fundraising in the selected arts, cultural and community organisations, as well as facilitating a ripple-effect of the knowledge created, to smaller, less resourced organisations.

Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive of Business to Arts states:

“This Fellowship builds on our existing partnerships and mutual objectives to address long-term human resource issues facing Dublin’s cultural sector. The four diverse organisations selected have the opportunity to develop and enhance their fundraising capacities, sharing their knowledge with local community organisations, through our intense programme of training and mentorship. We look forward to working with them over the next two years. Our extensive networks and resources will equip these organisations and Fellows with a range of resources which we hope will have a significant impact on the Irish arts fundraising landscape in years to come.”

At the announcement of the four organisations, Owen Keegan, Chief Executive, Dublin City Council said:

“The investment by Dublin City Council in creating positive legacies from the 2020 European Capital of Culture bid signals our commitment to the role that Culture will play in the future sustainability of the city, alongside Economic Development, Environmental Awareness and Social Inclusion. Building capacity in cultural organisations in the City, and further supporting the sharing of this learning and experiences with others that have less experience in fundraising and philanthropy will foster important new partnerships with communities, business, cultural organisations in Dublin.”

To learn more about the Fellowship click here