Arts scheme attracts new sponsors

Hughes Associates sponsored an exhibition of Ronald Rae sculptures

More Scottish businesses are helping to fund arts projects following the launch of a first-time sponsor scheme.

Since April, 28 businesses with no previous experience of arts sponsorship have contributed funding.

The new sponsorship has brought in £510,000, triggering a further £320,000 in Scottish Arts Council funding.

The scheme, managed by Arts & Business Scotland, doubles new sponsorship at a minimum of £1,000 and up to a maximum of £50,000 for each project.

Sponsors include Rolls Royce, Microsoft UK, BAE Systems, Scottish Widows, Isle of Jura, Hughes Associates and MacLean Electrical Group.

The New Arts Sponsorship Award funding programme was set up five months ago with £800,000 set aside over two years.

Social responsibility

Barclay Price, director of Arts & Business Scotland, said the initiative had been a great way of encouraging businesses to get involved.

He said: "Although business sponsorship of the arts in Scotland currently stands at around £9.4m, there are still many businesses that have not recognised that arts sponsorship offers a cost-effective route to assist brand differentiation, corporate social responsibility objectives and staff development."

Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson added: "Scotland's business community is discovering the many benefits of arts sponsorship and at the same time support arts organisations in increasing their revenue."