Call for Entries Opens Today for the Achates Philanthropy Prize 2017

The Call for Entries opens today for the only annual prize that celebrates first-time cultural giving in the UK.

Launched in 2016, the Achates Philanthropy Prize was created to celebrate and share stories behind the development of a new generation of philanthropists in the context of standstill cultural philanthropy in Britain and a competitive fundraising climate.

This year the Prize fund has doubled to £10,000, with the introduction of a Corporate Philanthropy Prize alongside the Individual Philanthropy Prize, thanks to the continued generous support of Achates Philanthropy Ltd. along with two first time arts sponsors, BOP Consulting and Spektrix.

Caroline McCormick, Chair of the Achates Philanthropy Foundation: "We are delighted to invite cultural organisations from across the UK to consider entering the 2017 Achates Philanthropy Prize. The Prize is a celebration of the many forms philanthropy takes today and an invitation to join our campaign to raise awareness of cultural organisations as charities that need support. We are particularly keen to hear the stories behind first-time gifts of all sizes and types that challenge the idea that arts philanthropy is the preserve of the few. We are particularly grateful to our sponsors: Achates Philanthropy Limited, BOP, Spektrix and our awards ceremony partners, The Old Vic, for their generous support. We look forward to reading your nominations".

Individual Philanthropy Prize:
Cultural organisations across all art forms are invited to nominate an outstanding individual or trust who has given philanthropically to the arts for the first time within the last 12 months, at all levels of giving.

The winning individual or trust will receive the Achates Philanthropy Prize for individual philanthropy, a sculpture by renowned British artist, Peter Brooke-Ball MRBS. The philanthropist will be custodian of the sculpture for one year, and their nominating cultural organisation will receive a £5,000 donation from the Foundation.

The Individual Philanthropy Prize is supported by Spektrix.

The Individual Philanthropy Prize judging panel is: Nigel Farnall, winner of the 2016 Achates Philanthropy Prize; Caroline McCormick, Director of Achates Philanthropy; Michael Nabarro, co-founder and CEO of Spektrix; Aliceson Robinson, Trustee and Young Philanthropy champion, and Chair of the panel; Rossella Traverso, Associate at BOP Consulting and Achates Philanthropy; John Wilson, journalist and broadcaster.

Corporate Philanthropy Prize:
Cultural organisations across all art forms are invited to nominate an outstanding company of any size, which has supported the arts for the first time within the last 12 months, at all levels of giving.

The winning company will receive the Achates Philanthropy Prize for corporate philanthropy, a sculpture by renowned British artist, Peter Brooke-Ball MRBS. The company will be custodian of the sculpture for one year, and their nominating cultural organisation will receive a £5,000 donation from the Foundation. This new prize for corporate philanthropy has been created at the suggestion of 2016 winner, Nigel Farnall, in response to the rapid decline in corporate support for culture in the UK.

The Corporate Philanthropy Prize judging panel is: Nigel Farnall, winner of the 2016 Achates Philanthropy Prize; Caroline McCormick, Director of Achates Philanthropy; Helen Gaffney, Executive Director of Achates Philanthropy; Razia Iqbal, journalist and broadcaster; Paul Owens, co-founder of BOP Consulting; Libby Penn, Chief Operating Officer at Spektrix, and Chair of the panel.

The 2017 Call for Entries opens on Monday 12 June at 10am and closes on Sunday 10 September at 5pm.

For more information on application criteria and how to apply, please visit: www.achates.org.uk.

The shortlist for both the Individual and Corporate Prizes will be announced in September 2017. Both winners will be announced at the Achates Philanthropy Prize 2017 ceremony, hosted by The Old Vic, in November 2017. Further details to be announced.

The 2017 Achates Philanthropy Prize is supported by Achates Philanthropy Ltd, in partnership with BOP Consulting, Spektrix and The Old Vic.

Follow on Twitter and Facebook: @achatesprize.