FundingJade Roberts & Michaela Bills

Funding is needed for everybody - whether it be a hit Broadway show or a local school. Each company or production has to start from the beginning and needs money to start the creative process, maintain the creative process or both.

Today we are going to look at two contrasting companies: Stoke Repertory Theatre (Self funding) and the Wilkes Academy (Outsourcing)

Why do we need funding?

We are going to look at too contrasting types of funding:

Arts council – Funds bigger projects but not as many professional ones. Provides the funding for the projects. More suited to educational theatre, theatre in the community projects ( like the Wilkes Academy)

Rep Theatre – Self funding company. Has it’s own in house productions and has a performance season.

Who are we going to look into for funding?

What do they do? Provide training for people within the

community who are interested in the art’s. Professional teachers with professional

performing experience teaching within all 3 disciplines

Offers qualifications through the Academy

Wilkes Academy

Funded by: Arts council Patrons Merchandise Memberships to classes Reputable name – well known names attract

more customers and more customers means more money

Wilkes Academy

What is the arts council? Council that provides grants to eligible business’

working within the arts’ who apply for financial support

How is the arts council run? Set up and run by 16 members who are charitable

trustees Think of ways in which the arts can be improved and

to make sure that they achieve it at a high possible rate.

Arts council

There are 9 types of funding that the arts council provides.. Grants for the arts Grants for the arts library fund Artists international development fund Capital investment program Catalyst arts Creative industry finance Digital R&D funds for the arts PRISM Strategic touring program

Arts council

Positives

Accepts and supports applications from a diverse range of people/groupsCommunity based

Useful for starting up business’Eligibility criteria creates lots of opportunitiesLarge sums of money

Negatives

Won’t be a continuous source of moneyThere is a limit to the amount of moneyLots of competition to get the moneyAny money that is left over after purchasing the items listed on the application form must be returned

Facts: Stoke repertory theatre is a theatre which focus on amateur dramatics. It

is a self funded company meaning the money needed to keep the establishment running and to enable shows to run, comes from patrons.

Neil Morrissey is a patron Current membership of roughly 125 volunteers – ranging from admin

staff, bar staff, technicians, F.O.H staff and so on.

What is the rep Theatre?

When was it first established?• Opened in 1997• First funds came from the Arts Council, a National

Lottery grant, the support of the City Council, funds raised by the membership and the generous sponsorship of local companies.

Rep Theatre: How is it funded?

Money from interval refreshments

Renting out the theatre to visiting theatre groups such as the groups in the picture opposite:

Rep Theatre (self funded)

Wilkes academy: assisted by (Arts Council)

Comments:

Money: Self funded Patrons Arts Council

Money: Arts council Patrons

Both rely on patrons, but the Wilkes academy has more money income from patrons

Venue: Purpose built venue

Venue: Local schools Wilkes academy is cheaper as they hire the venue, but it’s not purpose built.

Where is the money spent:Upkeep of the venueEquipmentH & SCostumesPromotion

Where is the money spent:Venue hireBranding

Rep theatre depends more on voluntary work and so is probably more cost efficient.

Additional ways of funding:VoluntaryBarIncome from visiting productions

Additional ways of funding:MerchandiseClass payments

The rep uses the community more efficiently, but the Wilkes Academy uses the branding to the maximum.

Comparison

Summary

Both companies rely heavily on patrons Both companies used income from the Arts Council The Wilkes Academy has increased it’s potential

income by expanding and creating new branches The Rep has also created an opportunity to increase

income by housing more visiting productions Both companies have great potential to continue far

into the future as they use their funding to it’s full potential.

http://www.swindon-college.ac.uk/news/swindon-college-launch-performing-arts-wilkes-academy

http://www.stokerep.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=62

http://www.wilkesacademy.co.uk/wilkes/about/

Bibliography