This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Businesses urged to cash in on the arts
06/04/2006
Up to £800,000, over the next two years, has been set aside to match any first-time sponsorship from private businesses backing the arts in Scotland.
The Executive's New Arts Sponsorship Awards will effectively double any funding from new sponsors at a minimum of £1,000 (in cash or kind) up to a maximum of £50,000 for each project.
The scheme, which will be funded through the Scottish Arts Council, will be managed by Arts & Business Scotland, an organisation which works to build private sector sponsorship of the arts.
Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson said:
"A healthy cultural scene is crucial to a creative and profitable Scottish economy.
"In January, when responding to the Cultural Commission Report, I pledged investment in a two year incentive programme to encourage more sponsorship of the arts by Scottish business.
"This new funding will, I hope, show that sponsorship of arts projects not only benefits the recipients, but the sponsors too.
Barclay Price, Director, Arts & Business Scotland, said:
"The arts sector in Scotland has been crying out for an incentive scheme such as this to boost its fundraising capabilities and attract new sponsors.
"With around a dozen companies providing almost 80 per cent of the total arts sponsorship in Scotland there is an obvious issue of sustainability facing our arts development professionals.
"These Awards will provide practical opportunities for businesses to discover the many benefits of arts sponsorship, and at the same time support arts organisations in increasing their revenue."
Applications should be made direct to Arts & Business Scotland (guidelines and an application form can be downloaded from its website: www.AandB.org.uk/Scotland
Businesses must be sponsoring the arts in Scotland for the first time, or must not have sponsored the arts in Scotland since March 31, 2003.