Modelling Sustainability for the Cultural Sector
Modelling Sustainability for the Cultural Sector is an innovative approach to developing bespoke business support services for non-profit organisations in the cultural sector looking to develop commercial income streams.
Our starting assumption is that it is largely impossible to deliver a profit in the commercial sense from the delivery of core profit e.g. performance, education work. Therefore, the question is not should the arts and culture receive a subsidy on core work, but where should that subsidy come from, and to what degree can organisations deliver part of the revenue shortfall through commercial trading and social enterprise?
We are currently working with 24 non-profit organisations, working through a three stage model covering organisational readiness, product/service identification, feasibility testing, business support brokerage and enterprise roll-out.
The programme is intensive and typically operates across an 18-24 month timeframe. Participants are selected through a demanding selection process, designed principally to establish commitment. The total value of the programme is £358,000 and the programme is due for completion by January 2008.
Our approach is centred on learning and developing skills and organisational capacity, and involves consultants and advisers working alongside organisations rather that completing work on their behalf.
The programme is funded through a range of sources including ERDF (European Regional Development Fund), Yorkshire Forward and DCMS agencies and is a partnership programme led by Yorkshire Culture. The operational project management, business support brokerage and the business support delivery is delivered by consultants with input from Business Link and other support agencies.
This project is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
Click here to read John Wright's article 'The seven key challenges for non-profit organisations'