SGM Open Members’ Meeting | ‘Culture’ | 11 June 2024
This quarter’s Open Member’s Meeting, hosting the theme ‘culture’, was supported by speakers Duncan Byatt, President of The Highland Society of London, and Blair Thomson, Chief Executive of The Northwood Charitable Trust and Trustee of Scottish Grantmakers. All resources are available below. All are available as PDFs, but if there is a format we can offer that is more accessible, please do not hesitate to contact us at scottishgrantmakers@wssociety.co.uk.
Present:
In attendance:
Sophie Mills (WS Society)
Patricia Cheney (WS Society)
Apologies:
Nick Ferguson, Kilfinan Trust
Jo Elliot, Binks Trust
Ali MacLachlan, The Wood Foundation
Gillian Taylor, Carnegie Dunfermline & Hero Fund Trust
Colin Liddell, Dunard Fund
Duncan Byatt, The Highland Society of London
Fiona Russell, The Gannochy Trust
Gareth Morgan, Paristamen Charity
Blair Thomson, The Northwood Charitable Trust
Elizabeth Pullar, Carnegie Dunfermline & Hero Fund Trust
Hazel Wotherspoon, William Syson Foundation
Julie Christie, Environmental Funders Network
Laura Bertie, Northwood Charitable Trust
Mark McGeachie, Fife Health Charity
Mary Porter, KPE4
Morag Neville, The Northwood Charitable Trust
Sarah Gilmour, Hymans Robertson
Stewart Murdoch, Alexander Moncur Trust
Defining Culture:
This quarter, Scottish Grantmakers’ Open Members’ Meeting hosted the theme ‘culture’. Though traditionally defined as an encompassment of things which make a communal identity including social behaviours, norms, beliefs, arts, customs, and habits, SGM Chair, Ali Maclachlan encouraged attending members to reflect on the potential of culture as a method to support initiatives of diversity and inclusion, environmental protection, and explore the far reaches culture work has on the sector.
Culture is an integral part of community identity, influencing everything from education and economic development to mental health and community cohesion. In the context of grant making, investing in culture means supporting projects that enhance community well-being.
The Highland Society of London
Our first speaker of the afternoon was Duncan Byatt, President of The Highland Society of London, who delivered an insightful presentation on the charity’s latest initiative. The Highland Society of London was established in 1778 and has over 400 members. The Society is dedicated to promoting and supporting the traditions and culture of the Highlands of Scotland.
Duncan detailed a significant collaborative project at the Kilmartin Museum, which is part of a broader £8,000,000 endeavour. The project exemplifies how smaller-scale collective efforts to contribute to a large cultural investment can yield substantial benefits for historical preservation and community enrichment.
Kilmartin Museum, located in Argyll, is renowned for its collection of prehistoric artifacts and its role in Scottish heritage education. The Highland Society of London’s involvement in the museum’s expansion project funded the Education Room, a space for research and learning, highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts. Duncan emphasised that such large-scale undertakings typically exceed the capacity of single funders. However, by pooling resources and expertise, multiple organisations can create a meaningful impact.
The Northwood Charitable Trust:
Our second speaker, Blair Thomson, Chief Executive of The Northwood Charitable Trust and Trustee of Scottish Grantmakers, provided a compelling discussion on the broader implications of cultural investments. The Northwood Charitable Trust focuses on local community development and has recognised culture as a pivotal area of investment. Blair’s talk highlighted how projects relating to local culture can act as catalysts for positive change across other funding themes.
Blair illustrated this with examples from The Northwood Charitable Trusts’ recent projects. By investing in local arts initiatives, they have observed significant improvements in community cohesion. These programs are often delivered in collaboration with small charities or community groups, providing them with a sense of belonging and purpose.
Discussions following Blair’s presentation emphasised the interconnection between culture, education and poverty alleviation. In areas with high poverty, cultural initiatives can drive economic revitalisation by creating jobs, attracting visitors, and fostering a community.. The Northwood Charitable Trust’s long-term investment in a venue like the V&A Dundee, which offers exhibitions free of charge to the public is particularly necessary for accessibility to all members in a community.
Members concluded by underscoring the "ripple effect" of cultural investments. When funders support cultural projects, they indirectly contribute to various other social outcomes, including improved mental health, better educational outcomes, and stronger communities. This holistic approach to grant making ensures that funds are utilised efficiently to create broad, lasting impacts.
Conclusions
The Scottish Grantmakers Members' Meeting provided a rich platform for discussing the multifaceted benefits of investing in culture. Both The Highland Society of London and The Northwood Charitable Trust highlighted the transformative potential of cultural projects, from preserving historical legacies to fostering community well-being. Their presentations underscored a key takeaway for attendees: by prioritising culture, grant makers can drive significant, positive change across multiple social dimensions.
Regardless of the size of investment, grant making efforts to support cultural initiatives were agreed to be most impactful when achieved through a network of charities or organisations.
Contacts
To contact The Highland Society of London about this project or other projects in the Highlands, please email info@highlandsocietyoflondon.org .
Upcoming events
Scottish Grantmakers next event will be our Annual Conference. We are delighted to share the conference theme this year is: What is Our Gift? Where we will explore not only the financial impact on our communities, but how the experiences and expertise of grant makers can be used to better support the communities we serve.
The Annual Conference will take place Tuesday 24 September 2024 at The Barracks in Stirling from 9.00 – 17.00.