Local arts and cultural groups in line for Big Give fundraising boost

Arts and cultural organisations across the region will be bidding for public donations to provide new creative opportunities for children and young people as part of the national Arts for Impact fundraising campaign – and every pound they raise will be doubled by West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

The online fundraising campaign will run from 19-26 March, led by Big Give – the UK’s leading match fund platform - and New Philanthropy for Arts & Culture, a network of arts supporters who are passionate about increasing philanthropic support of the arts and culture sector.

Eleven charities and community groups across the West Midlands have been chosen to be part of Arts for Impact.

The money they raise in public donations throughout the week, combined with the match funding from the WMCA, will help provide more music, dance, drama, literature, visual arts, and other creative activities that can have a positive impact on young lives, from boosting their mental health to improving social skills.

 The region's chosen charities are:

• Artis Foundation to run creative learning sessions in primary schools to boost their wellbeing through performing arts activities.
• Birmingham Children’s Hospital to work with professional musicians and local organisations to run musical activities for young patients and families, providing many with their first experience of live music.
• Birmingham Contemporary Music Group to deliver free creative music-making workshops for eight- to 18-year-olds, giving them the opportunity to compose and perform their own music with professional concert musicians.
• Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust to provide more opportunities for young people from under-served communities to discover and develop their creative talents, confidence and leadership skills in support of its Unlocked ambition to become the most accessible venue of its size in the UK.
• Craftspace to give four marginalised young people aged 16 to 18 two weeks' experience working alongside artists in their studios to get first-hand insight into creative careers to build their confidence and inform future career choices.
• Ex Cathedra to provide Singing Medicine sessions to improve the wellbeing of children who are in hospital for long periods of time while undergoing treatment.
• Highly Sprung Performance to provide first arts experience for children aged three to seven who live in disadvantaged areas, using performance to increase their understanding of the natural world, its benefits, and the role they can play in looking after it.
• Ricnic to run free theatre workshops to give disadvantaged young people in Walsall the chance to write, direct, and perform their own work.
• Stratford Literary Festival to provide books to local schools as part of the festival’s Build a Library campaign which promotes the positive impact reading can have on wellbeing and other life outcomes.
• The People’s Orchestra to run a weekly inclusive community walking group in parks and other public spaces across Sandwell to improve walkers’ mental and physical health.
• Writing West Midlands to offer free places on its creative writing activities, helping to improve writing skills, self-confidence, and the pleasure of telling stories.

Julie Watson, Singing Medicine grants and individual giving manager; Laura Shoaf, WMCA chief executive; Rebecca Ledgard, Singing Medicine director of education and participation; Sir Vernon Ellis, chairman of New Philanthropy for Arts & Culture (NPAC) with Noah Bear, Singing Medicine mascot; Gemma King, Singing Medicine education and participation manager; and Alex Day, managing director of Big Give.

Laura Shoaf, chief executive at the WMCA, said: “All 11 local projects that will be raising money through the Big Give are very different but equally profound in the positive impact they have on the health and wellbeing of young people in the West Midlands.

“The combined authority is proud to be able to use money set aside to deliver a long-lasting and region-wide legacy from the Commonwealth Games to match the public donations to ensure these fabulous local organisations can provide important creative and cultural opportunities to even more young people.”

Alex Day, managing director of Big Give, said: “We are delighted that the WMCA is involved in this groundbreaking campaign. Its support is critical to the livelihood of so many worthy causes and charities that are transforming the lives of hundreds of people in the local community on a daily basis.”

Find out how to donate to these charities as part of Arts for Impact campaign at Big Give's website.

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