Business to Arts in partnership with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media has announced that Sample-Studios Cork and Galway Community Circus have been selected to participate in the Fundraising Fellowship, Ireland programme, following an open call for applications in November 2023.
The Fundraising Fellowship, Ireland offers both organisations 50% matched funding to hire a full-time fundraising or marketing and fundraising professional for two years. The two recruited Fellows will participate in a structured training and mentorship programme in 2024-2026 developed by Business to Arts. The aim is to equip the recruited fellows and their organisations with skills and supports to build fundraising and development capacity. Both organisations will commence the public recruitment of their Fundraising Fellow in the next month, with the training and development programme commencing in earnest in early Summer.
“ Congratulations to Fundraising Fellowship recipients, Sample-Studios Cork and Galway Community Circus. I am thrilled the Department has been supporting the Fundraising Fellowship, Ireland since 2016. It continues to act as a critical resource to cultural organisations in developing the kind of fundraising capacity and expertise necessary for the growth and success of these organisations and the delivery of their missions.”
Over €2.1 million has been raised by Fellows during their time participating in the programme. These include Sing Ireland, Graffiti Theatre Company, Druid Theatre, Cork International Film Festival, Dublin Theatre Festival, Helium Arts, Temple Bar Gallery + Studios, Fishamble: The New Play Company, The Lime Tree Theatre, and Music Network. The Fundraising Fellowship, Ireland seeks to address the lack of human resources dedicated to fundraising facing the cultural sector and to build on previous investment by cultural organisations in their strategic planning and fundraising.
Louise O’Reilly, Chief Executive, Business to Arts:
“We are so grateful to be working with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media again on our fifth iteration of the Fundraising Fellowship Ireland, We are excited to welcome two exciting regional arts organisations to the programme. We look forward to working with both organisations and believe our combined networks and expertise will have a significant impact on their fundraising strategies. Our intense programme of training and mentorship will help to develop and enhance their fundraising capacity and embed a development mindset in their teams.”
Galway Community Circus
Galway Community Circus is Ireland’s flagship for youth and social circus, located in the heart of Galway City. Their mission is to foster the growth of youth circus in Ireland and internationally through their dynamic circus school. They provide access to high-quality subsidised circus arts education through their circus school offering youth and adult programmes for over 500 weekly students as well as professional training and community programmes in partnership with those who have specific social or developmental needs. They also provide artist supports, training and mentoring and lead the development of youth circus in Ireland through their academic, national, and international partnerships.
Executive Director, Lynn Carroll commented:
“We are thrilled to have been selected for the Fundraising Fellowship, Ireland 2024-2026 programme, which will provide us with the necessary tools, networks and knowledge needed to amplify our impact, expand our reach and secure the essential resources needed to achieve our mission. This programme comes at a pivotal moment for us as we continue to scale up our operations across multiple venues, increase our impact, and work towards our vision of making circus education accessible to every child in Ireland.”
Sample Studios Cork
Sample-Studios is one of Ireland’s largest artist studios. Sample-Studios launch, support and sustain creative careers and practices in Cork. They provide affordable and quality studios for over 125 artists and arts practitioners in their premises in Churchfield and present an ambitious programme of public exhibitions and events in The Lord Mayor’s Pavilion, Triskel Arts Centre, and sites throughout Cork City, engaging over 27,000 people annually.
Aoibhie McCarthy, Director commented:
“We are delighted to have been selected for the Fundraising Fellowship 2024-26. This opportunity comes at a critical juncture in the trajectory of Sample-Studios, one of Ireland's largest artist studios. Last year, we set out a new five-year Strategic Plan, an ambitious roadmap to ensure that our membership, audiences, and impact continue to grow. The Fellowship will be a game changer for Sample-Studios as we look to the future and the creation of a central hub in which to realise our ambitions."
