The Arts Council has today published a report, Irish Arts Sector, Private Investment Report, which identifies and analyses the level of annual private investment received by Arts Council-funded organisations. The report takes 2012 as its fixed point, making it a useful tool for measuring progress in the area in the years ahead. The report takes 2012 as its fixed point, making it a useful tool for measuring progress in the area in the years ahead.

The report, prepared by specialist advisors to the not-for-profit sector 2into3, focuses on sponsorship and philanthropic income received by arts organisations. It analyses the investment received considering factors such as art form, organisation size and location. A comparison is also made between the diversification of arts organisations’ funding in Ireland and Britain.

In 2012, Arts Council funded organisations secured €6.6m in private investment with 53 percent from philanthropy and 47 percent from sponsorship. Comparative analysis suggests that there is considerable scope to increase philanthropic support as arts organisations in Britain are attracting 4.1 percent share of the all philanthropic giving compared to just 0.7 percent in Ireland. The study is based on information submitted by 189 organisations.

The data offers a base for subsequent annual analysis, which will aim to identify a trend in giving to the arts in Ireland. The initiation of this report is particularly timely considering the launch of the Arts Council’s fundraising capacity building programme, ‘RAISE, the Business of Arts Fundraising’ in 2012. This report will provide a base figure for evaluation purposes and offer arts organisations a benchmark for the level of private investment peer organisations are attracting.

The full report is available here:  Irish Arts Sector, Private Investment Report

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