Arts Fundraising Mentorship Program + Australian Tapestry Workshop
In 2017 we offered 12 arts fundraising mentorships for Australian arts organisations. Successful art organisations were matched with an experienced arts fundraiser and worked on their fundraising strategy for 10 months.
The Australian Tapestry Workshop is regarded as an international centre of excellence for innovative, contemporary, hand-woven tapestries, created in collaboration with leading artists, architects & designers.
We talked to Josephine Briginshaw, Development Coordinator at Australian Tapestry Workshop about their involvement in the mentorship program.
Aims for the program
After participating in many Creative Partnerships Australia workshops I knew our participation in the Arts Fundraising Mentorship Program would be exceptional and have a significant long-term impact.
As an emerging arts fundraiser, I saw an opportunity to develop a worthy bequest program for the Australian Tapestry Workshop (ATW) as well as boost my skills and develop professionally.
The ATW needs a bequest strategy to financially secure the future of the organisation and uphold our vision – to maintain our position as a world-leading tapestry workshop, creating and promoting contemporary hand-woven tapestries.
Mentor relationship
My wonderful mentor was Jill Colvin, Director of Philanthropy at the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
Jill has brought a wealth of knowledge to the mentee/mentor relationship not only as philanthropy professional but through her experiences working in marketing, digital strategy, brand management, business development, philanthropy, relationship management and communications.
The ATW realised the need to start fundraising through an annual appeal, to diversify our income and expand our public engagement.
Now in its sixth year, our annual GIVE AN INCH appeal has a loyal donor base who are committed to the ATW as a unique arts organisation.
Beyond GIVE AN INCH the ATW and the Tapestry Foundation of Australia seek and steward major donations for the creation of tapestries in public spaces such as hospitals, war memorials, libraries and art galleries.
Additionally, visionary supporters have enabled ongoing donor programs including the Hancock Fellow (an international speaker program) the Myer Fund (weaver professional development) and the Kate Derum and Irene Davies Awards for Small Tapestries.
Long-term impacts
Jill and I have worked together to develop an ATW bequest program strategy to provide a clear, well researched and strategic approach to developing and implementing bequest related communication materials and handling procedures.
As well as ensure that all of the ATW’s employees and stakeholders have a good understanding of the legal essentials associated with bequests and wills.
Jill also joined me at a recent Board Business Development and Marketing committee meeting, at which we briefed ATW Board of Directors on the bequest program.
Jill and I have been working on marketing materials to launch the program in 2019 and a procedures manual.
Reflections
It was wonderful to be able to delve into research materials as suggested by Jill, and then catch up in person to chat through ideas and get feedback.
If I wasn’t able to progress on the bequest project, due to other priorities we’d use our time to catch up on and discuss other ATW fundraising projects, approaches and opportunities – every conversation with Jill has been extremely beneficial to myself and the ATW.
I am very fortunate to have a mentor who is understanding of the limited resources of a small arts organisation.
You can donate to the Give an Inch Appeal here.
Find out about more of our mentorship programs here.
