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Arts groups to ask for donations via mobile phone Arts groups to ask for donations via mobile phone
(6 months later)
An ornate 17th century beaded basket and a badly damaged portrait of Britain's first world war naval commanders could be two of the first artworks to benefit from a newly launched funding scheme.An ornate 17th century beaded basket and a badly damaged portrait of Britain's first world war naval commanders could be two of the first artworks to benefit from a newly launched funding scheme.
The scheme, called Donate, encourages people to give money to arts groups via a mobile phone or tablet device. To start it off, 11 institutions have signed up – from the Baltic Gallery in Gateshead to the Science Museum in London – and will display posters showing how it works. The idea is that people will be so cheered by what they have seen – whether a play or an exhibition – that they will feel moved to donate electronically, perhaps as little as £3.The scheme, called Donate, encourages people to give money to arts groups via a mobile phone or tablet device. To start it off, 11 institutions have signed up – from the Baltic Gallery in Gateshead to the Science Museum in London – and will display posters showing how it works. The idea is that people will be so cheered by what they have seen – whether a play or an exhibition – that they will feel moved to donate electronically, perhaps as little as £3.
Comedian Griff Rhys Jones, who had more than 10 years experiencing the headaches of fundraising at the Hackney Empire, backed the scheme on Wednesday. "It was an experience I don't intend to repeat," he said. "It was, actually, horrendous." He said he was now wary of many fundraising ideas but endorsed this one. "What I learned is: you do have to ask."Comedian Griff Rhys Jones, who had more than 10 years experiencing the headaches of fundraising at the Hackney Empire, backed the scheme on Wednesday. "It was an experience I don't intend to repeat," he said. "It was, actually, horrendous." He said he was now wary of many fundraising ideas but endorsed this one. "What I learned is: you do have to ask."
Jones said that it often seemed a near impossible task to reach a target but added that it was possible to raise vast amounts with small donations, pointing to the Comic Relief appeal, which has raised nearly £1bn over 25 years.Jones said that it often seemed a near impossible task to reach a target but added that it was possible to raise vast amounts with small donations, pointing to the Comic Relief appeal, which has raised nearly £1bn over 25 years.
The plan is to roll Donate out nationally at the end of 2013. Others taking part in the first wave are the V&A, the National Portrait Gallery, the Southbank Centre, London's Almeida Theatre, Bolton's Octagon Theatre, the Holburne Museum in Bath, the Kala Sangam south Asian arts company in Bradford, the National Trust, and the Leeds-based Phoenix Dance Theatre.The plan is to roll Donate out nationally at the end of 2013. Others taking part in the first wave are the V&A, the National Portrait Gallery, the Southbank Centre, London's Almeida Theatre, Bolton's Octagon Theatre, the Holburne Museum in Bath, the Kala Sangam south Asian arts company in Bradford, the National Trust, and the Leeds-based Phoenix Dance Theatre.
Each has specific goals. For example, the NPG wants to raise £20,000 to restore a painting currently unfit for display. The hope is that the five-metre-long Naval Officers of World War I by Sir Arthur Stockdale Cope might be returned to its former glory in time for the first world war centenary in 2014. The Holburne Museum, meanwhile, is hoping for £5,000 to buy what it calls an "irresistibly charming and slightly mad" 17th century basket made from thousands of tiny glass beads. The Octagon is raising £100,000 to modernise its building and the Southbank is trying to raise the final £150,000 it needs to restore the Royal Festival Hall organ.Each has specific goals. For example, the NPG wants to raise £20,000 to restore a painting currently unfit for display. The hope is that the five-metre-long Naval Officers of World War I by Sir Arthur Stockdale Cope might be returned to its former glory in time for the first world war centenary in 2014. The Holburne Museum, meanwhile, is hoping for £5,000 to buy what it calls an "irresistibly charming and slightly mad" 17th century basket made from thousands of tiny glass beads. The Octagon is raising £100,000 to modernise its building and the Southbank is trying to raise the final £150,000 it needs to restore the Royal Festival Hall organ.
The organisation behind Donate is the National Funding Scheme. Its chairman, Robert Dufton, said it was exciting to see the first phase of the scheme go live.The organisation behind Donate is the National Funding Scheme. Its chairman, Robert Dufton, said it was exciting to see the first phase of the scheme go live.
"The scheme was created to help UK cultural organisations tackle the challenge of funding in a new, innovative way that engages supporters at the point of emotional engagement and encourages giving," he said."The scheme was created to help UK cultural organisations tackle the challenge of funding in a new, innovative way that engages supporters at the point of emotional engagement and encourages giving," he said.
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