Does the cultural and creative sector need a new kind of finance?
Take part in our survey to support the cultural and creative sector - and be in with a chance to win a £250 charity donation.
👉 Take the survey here: lnkd.in/ebcxgdpA
Book a slot here: figurative.org.uk/event/meet-t...
Blue background with colour photo of two women standing in conversation in a bright room. Black text reads Meet the Figurative Team, Wednesday 6th May, 10-5pm, Somerset House London
Our investment, philanthropy & impact teams will be available for 20-minute one-to-one chats, in person or virtually at our Open House day. Whether you’re curious about repayable finance, looking to strengthen your work with philanthropists, or just want to learn more about us – we’d love to talk!
Fran Sanderson, Figurative's CEO, explores the the infinite nature of human creativity as well as the importance of the sector's intangible assets whether that's intellectual property, skills, networks, data, and brand in this article for @artsprofessional.co.uk. You can read the article below ⤵️
@biggive.bsky.social
Our major match funding campaign, run by our philanthropy development team in collaboration with Big Give is now live!
Any donation to arts charities taking part in Arts for Impact & made via BigGive.org between now and 24 March will be doubled! ✨ Find an organisation here: lnkd.in/esKUzr9b ✨
What are the capacity building needs of organisations we fund? 💭
Last year, we surveyed organisations we fund about their capacity building support needs and experiences of 'beyond funding' support.
➡️ Find out more: esmeefairbairn.org.uk/latest-news/...
🗣️ We'd love to know what you think!
We’re happy to share that Figurative will be speaking at two sessions at this year's @museumsandheritage.com Show.
We're presenting on two topics close to our heart Funding the Future: Making Museums Net Zero and Building Financial Resilience: Beyond Grant Dependency.
Register for your pass below👇
We're delighted to be speaking on both days!
If you’re an arts or cultural organisation with a clear social mission that wants to grow, strengthen its assets, or explore new income streams, our fund could support your next steps.
If you’d like to explore whether our fund could help your organisation, visit figurative.org.uk/fund/arts-cu...
registrations are still open to join our free January Webinar...
🎦Webinar: Building Financial Resilience
📅 Thursday 29 January | 11:30-12:30 | Free
💫 Book your spot | figurative.org.uk/event/webina...
An important piece of research from @musicvenuetrust.bsky.social in @artsprofessional.co.uk about the the UK's grassroots music venues.
Thanks for sharing!
Our big takeaway from December's publication of the Hodge Review is that we at Figurative haven’t shouted enough about who we are and what we do! Read how we are supporting Baroness Margaret Hodge’s vision for a flourishing cultural and creative sector | figurative.org.uk/news/figurat...
Calling arts & culture charities achieving societal impact!
Arts for Impact 2026 with @biggive.bsky.social in partnership with #acefunded Figurative Philanthropy for Arts & Culture is open for applications.!
Closing date | 17 December
Find out more figurative.org.uk/news/arts-fo...
Brilliant work from the Music Venue Trust as ever!
The investment period for our Arts & Culture Impact Fund (ACIF) has been extended until 2027!
Read more figurative.org.uk/news/major-i...
Thanks to @artscouncilengland.bsky.social, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Better Society Capital, Nesta, @esmeefairbairn.bsky.social & Freelands Foundation.
Map of the UK with a selection of lightly coloured circles demonstrating where organisations are that Figurative has supported.
As part of our anniversary, we've created an interactive map to shine a spotlight on the organisations we've supported across the cultural sector - from community theatres transforming young lives to museums preserving our heritage.
🔎 Explore our map here: figurative.org.uk/resource/cel...
Figurative is a new charity specialising in social impact investing for arts and culture organisations.
To learn how we can work with you, watch our story here: youtu.be/Dc-IZ_oqkG4?...
#ArtsAndCulture #ImpactInvesting #SocialImpact #CreativeIndustries #CulturalSector #Philanthropy
Last year, Figurative launched as an independent not-for-profit, spinning out of Nesta with a bold mission: to revolutionise arts funding & build financial resilience across the cultural & creative sector.
Check out our infographic for a snapshot of our work, to see what the team have been up to!
✨ Figurative would like to thank our collaborators Upkar Arora, Jayne Lovelock, Annabelle Camp, Lisa Alberti, David Maggs, and the team at Metcalf Foundation for their invaluable insights throughout this process.
Five dancers posed on stage in a dramatic position with a dark red lighting. Text reads: Setting the Stage - A Guide to Creating Impact Investment Initiatives in the Cultural and Creative Sectors.
We're excited to be publishing our new guide Setting the Stage today! The guide offers actionable guidance for funders, policymakers & cultural sector leaders considering impact investment initiatives.
➡️ figurative.org.uk/resource/set...
#CulturalImpactInvestment #ArtsFinance #CreativeEconomy
The Collaboration Canvas is a practical toolkit for UK cultural & creative orgs - from informal alliances to full mergers. Huge thanks to our contributors & brilliant case studies Creative Newham, Diverse City, Cirque Bijou & Fabric who brought the report to life. Download rb.gy/3gpmow
🎉 We're thrilled to share our latest free resource: The Collaboration Canvas: Tools for Creative Partnerships. Created with @eastside-people.bsky.social to demystify collaboration & unlock new opportunities. Download: rb.gy/3gpmow
#CollaborationCanvas #CulturalSector #ArtsCollaboration #UKCreatives
We’re delighted to share that we have been officially registered as an independent charity by Charity Commission for England and Wales!
✨ You can read more about our new status here: figurative.org.uk/news/figurat...
When it comes to culture and the creative industries, any new government strategy provokes new questions. The latest Creative Industries Sector Plan is no exception, writes Jason Jones-Hall. www.artsprofessional.co.uk/magazine/fea...
We are delighted to have been chosen as one of six cultural organisations to feature as a case study in the Private Investment in the Cultural Sector report, commissioned by @artscouncilengland.bsky.social to explore our work bringing more private investment into the cultural & creative sector.
In the latest Private Investment in Culture Survey, The Audience Agency finds that private investment – although growing – is outweighed by rising costs.
It shows that, in the mixed funding model of the creative sector, public funding is key.
Read more 👇
buff.ly/oKKwtnG
The UK’s culture sector is under threat, and the country is at risk of losing its global reputation for excellence, former Shadow Culture Secretary Thangam Debbonaire has told parliament.
Figurative is delighted to support @musicvenueprop.bsky.social (MVP) with a second impact investment loan of £500,000. MVP has impact across the UK as it brings grassroots music venues under community ownership, protecting their vital contributions to local neighbourhoods & the UK’s music scene. 👏
