Culture & Business Scotland Fund reopens

The Culture & Business Scotland Fund (C&BS) is returning for its seventh year, with a renewed focus on boosting collaboration between the two sectors.

Having invested more than £3m in almost 170 business and culture sector partnerships across Scotland since 2017, the latest iteration opens on 13 May.

It invests in sponsorship where funds, goods or services are provided by businesses in exchange for certain rights or benefits provided by the culture organisation partner to address business needs or create competitive advantage.

Non-profit organisations undertaking activity in arts and heritage can apply for investment of £1 for every £2 of business sponsorship. For example, an organisation receiving sponsorship of £20,000 from a business could apply for up to £10,000 of additional investment from the C&BS Fund.

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society was among the beneficiaries of last year’s fund. Having managed the world’s biggest arts festival since 1958, the society partnered with Playbill, an American magazine for theatregoers, which saw an opportunity to further expose US audiences to the variety of new shows delivered at the Fringe Festival, while promoting the publication amongst Fringe audiences.

The Fringe App, which helps festival-goers to navigate the array of shows on offer, was reintroduced and proved popular, with 144,000 users and 23% of sales made through the app. Meanwhile, an expanded Fringe Street Events programme allowed visitors to experience the carnival atmosphere of the festival for free on the city’s streets, hosting more than 500 performers, as well as creating exposure for Playbill.

Westaly Duignan, head of fundraising and development at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “The funding helped us to deliver clear signage to, and branding of, the performance spaces on the Mound, in central Edinburgh, adding value to our partnership and supporting audiences to see free shows.

“A key element of this was the Fringe Taster Stage, a popular area for artists, local community groups and schools to perform at the Fringe.”

To streamline the application process, Culture & Business Scotland is introducing two brief stages prior to application: a short film to hear an insight into the new guidelines and an expression of interest form to ensure applicant organisations are eligible before they compose their application outlining their partnership and project in more detail.

David Watt, chief executive at Culture & Business Scotland, said: “We’re pleased to be able to deliver the C&BS Fund for a seventh year, thanks to continuing investment from the Scottish Government, helping to support innovative partnerships, while incentivising businesses to invest in culture and championing the benefits this can bring.

“We aim to invest in as many collaborative partnerships as possible to showcase the incredible work that these relationships can facilitate.”

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson added: “The fund recognises the benefits of strategic partnerships between culture and business – I would encourage culture and heritage organisations to consider applying to the fund.”

Originally established in 1986, today Culture & Business Scotland is a charitable organisation supporting the nation’s cultural and economic wellbeing by connecting culture, public and business sectors.

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