Fundraising for touring companies and organisations based outside of London
Fundraising for touring companies and organisations based outside of London
By
Steven Atkinson
SUMMARY
HighTide Festival Theatre (HighTide) is one of the UK’s leading producers of new plays, and the only professional theatre focused on the production of new playwrights. They consider around 1,000 scripts a year from which they then work with 100 playwrights on a range of development opportunities, from workshops to full productions. Box office makes up around 20% of HighTide’s annual turnover, so the remaining 80% needs to be raised from alternative sources. This short case study describes how HighTide fundraises to supplement its income.
Process
HighTide recognised the need to first build a strong case for support - articulating why supporting young artists matters to their organisation and the artists they work with. Once this was in place, they focused on developing relationships with funders who already demonstrated an affinity with their objectives, rather than trying to bend their mission to fit with funding criteria. It is essential to establish how your organisation is unique/ relevant/ important so you can confidently communicate this and find like-minded partners to help you achieve your goals. This applies whether you are talking to individuals, corporates, or trusts and foundations.
Resource type: Case studies | Published: 2014
