The Achates Philanthropy Prize has introduced the Achates Philanthropy Prize Ambassadors, a newly-established group of experienced arts professionals, who are launching the first-ever Achates Bursaries giving five UK arts organisations a bespoke masterclass to support the development of their fundraising.

The Achates Philanthropy Prize is an annual prize that celebrates first-time supporters of the arts of all levels across the UK. The new bursaries is the first in a series of national initiatives to be launched and led by the Ambassadors, supported by the Trustees of the Achates Philanthropy Foundation and the Directors of Achates Philanthropy Ltd.

Achates Philanthropy Foundation Chair, Caroline McCormick, said: ‘Since launching the Achates Philanthropy Prize four years ago, it’s been invigorating to discover so many colleagues in the sector who feel as passionately as we – the Trustees of the Achates Philanthropy Foundation – do about the need for a seismic shift in approaches to fundraising. By supporting this first national initiative of the Prize Ambassadors, the Trustees of the Foundation and the Directors of Achates Philanthropy Ltd. are investing in a community of people who believe passionately in the need for a resilient, robust and future-proof arts ecology. We look forward to shaping the future of the Prize together with them.’

The ambassadors will lead on the development and delivery of new models to support the continued growth of cultural sector fundraising. The bursaries will offer  five organisations a bespoke day-long masterclass on cultural sector fundraising, tailored to their specific needs in infrastructure and skills development. In addition, the Ambassadors will produce an accompanying report that will inform the future development of the Prize through its findings.

Achates Philanthropy Prize Ambassador, Annemarie Shillito, said: ‘The Plough Arts Centre, based in rural northern Devon, has been shortlisted three times for the Achates Philanthropy Prize and won the Individual Philanthropy Award in 2017. This was a huge boost for us and enabled a whole new tranche of individual bursaries for children in hardship. I now feel honoured to be joining the Ambassadors team, introducing new organisations to the possibilities the Prize presents. We will be working regionally and offering our individual support to organisations applying and are happy to talk through the process, which is very easy and based on telling the story of a first-time cultural supporter. The Ambassadors will also lead on tailored fundraising masterclasses for those who don’t quite make the shortlist. This is such an inclusive, win-win process, which I know will lead to benefits for a much wider group than ever before.’

For more information and to find out how to apply visit: http://www.achatesprize.co.uk