Case study:Achates Fundraises: The Art House, Wakefield

Deborah and the fundraising team at Achates are simply amazing to work with. They are helping us to develop and deliver a major step-change in our fundraising income. I think what is so wonderful about them is their integrity and commitment to telling you the honest truth about what they think you can achieve. Because we respect their opinion, professionalism and experience so much, we trust that we can achieve what they've laid out. This ends up being incredibly reassuring and inspiring. I have never worked with better fundraising advisors. Or nicer ones, for that matter.

Photograph David Lindsay, courtesy of The Art House

The Art House in Wakefield is a home for the community, working with emerging and rediscovered artists; people with physical disabilities; refugees and asylum seekers, young children and their families. The Art House ensures that people who are not typically engaged with visual art can feel a sense of belonging and are encouraged to be curious. From artist residencies, exhibitions, events and workshops to professional development, the organisation puts people and creativity at the centre of social change. In March, the organisation’s achievements were recognised by Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and King’s College London, who announced The Art House as the main recipient of the Award for Civic Arts Organisations 2022.

In early 2022, Achates led on the development of a Fundraising Snapshot to identify how The Art House could create a step-change in its revenue and capital fundraising, as it looks towards the Arts Council England NPO process and realises its ambitions to grow its work post-pandemic. The recommendations of the report are now being modelled and Achates is supporting on key steps to enact the strategy.