As part of its UK Catalyst programme the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded Arts & Business Scotland with a development grant to produce a fundraising capacity building programme worth £468,400 for heritage organisations across Scotland. 

The proposed programme will be delivered by Arts & Business Scotland in partnership with Archaeology Scotland, Built Environment Forum Scotland, Greenspace Scotland, Museums Galleries Scotland and Scottish Environment LINK and will provide Scotland’s diverse heritage sector with the vital tools needed to increase fundraising from private sources.

The initiative, which is expected to be delivered over three years from 2014, will be the first fully co-ordinated sector specific training and network strengthening programme bringing together all heritage sectors including ecology, environment, built environment, museums and galleries.

On the announcement of the HLF Catalyst development grant, Jeanie Scott, Research & Development Manager, Arts & Business Scotland, said:

“This is a fantastic opportunity for Arts & Business Scotland to work collaboratively with the broad heritage sector across Scotland to deliver a fully tailored and coordinated capacity building programme.  We’re looking forward to working with our partners and heritage organisations, large and small, across the country in the coming months to develop a programme that will ensure healthy financial resilience for Scotland’s heritage for future generations.”

Colin McLean , Head of Heritage Lottery Fund Scotland, said:

“Through the Catalyst programme, the Heritage Lottery Fund is offering heritage organisations the tools to develop longer-term financial security. It will help develop capacity for effective fundraising and new relationships with private and commercial sponsors, ensuring that our heritage has a sustainable future. We are delighted that Arts and Business Scotland will be leading a broad partnership that reaches right across Scotland’s heritage sector to develop their programme, and look forward to seeing their detailed proposals”

The full grant ring-fenced for Arts & Business Scotland by the HLF Catalyst Umbrella grants is subject to a two stage assessment and award process. At this stage Arts & Business Scotland has received initial support plus development funding which means the project meets HLF criteria for funding and has potential to deliver high-quality benefits and value for Lottery money. The application was in competition with other supportable projects, so this is an endorsement of outline proposals. The project will submit fully developed proposals to secure a firm award at a later date.

In this stage 2 of the development of the project information gathering is currently underway and work will continue to develop the fundraising capacity building project over the next four months. During this period A& B Scotland and partner organisations will be communicating with heritage member organisations, large and small, to ensure the programme reach is as wide as possible.

The HLF Catalyst programme, which includes £8.5million of endowment grants and £3.8million to help build fundraising capacity, is designed to help organisations diversify their income streams, attract significantly more funding by increasing their fundraising potential and help them to develop and explore innovative approaches to securing private donations.

For further information on the HLF Catalyst Programme UK Grants please go to www.hlf.org.uk

Arts & Business Scotland’s Project Partners

Archaeology Scotland  www.archaeologyscotland.org.uk

Built Environment Forum Scotland  www.befs.co.uk

Greenspace Scotland  www.greenspacescotland.org.uk

Museums Galleries Scotland  www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk

Scottish Environment LINK  www.scotlink.org