What are the capacity building needs of organisations we fund? 💭
Last year, we surveyed organisations we fund about their capacity building support needs and experiences of 'beyond funding' support.
➡️ Find out more: esmeefairbairn.org.uk/latest-news/...
🗣️ We'd love to know what you think!
We’re happy to share that Figurative will be speaking at two sessions at this year's @museumsandheritage.com Show.
We're presenting on two topics close to our heart Funding the Future: Making Museums Net Zero and Building Financial Resilience: Beyond Grant Dependency.
Register for your pass below👇
We're delighted to be speaking on both days!
05.03.2026 10:45 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
If you’re an arts or cultural organisation with a clear social mission that wants to grow, strengthen its assets, or explore new income streams, our fund could support your next steps.
If you’d like to explore whether our fund could help your organisation, visit figurative.org.uk/fund/arts-cu...
registrations are still open to join our free January Webinar...
🎦Webinar: Building Financial Resilience
📅 Thursday 29 January | 11:30-12:30 | Free
💫 Book your spot | figurative.org.uk/event/webina...
An important piece of research from @musicvenuetrust.bsky.social in @artsprofessional.co.uk about the the UK's grassroots music venues.
21.01.2026 10:18 — 👍 4 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0Thanks for sharing!
21.01.2026 10:14 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Our big takeaway from December's publication of the Hodge Review is that we at Figurative haven’t shouted enough about who we are and what we do! Read how we are supporting Baroness Margaret Hodge’s vision for a flourishing cultural and creative sector | figurative.org.uk/news/figurat...
07.01.2026 13:30 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Calling arts & culture charities achieving societal impact!
Arts for Impact 2026 with @biggive.bsky.social in partnership with #acefunded Figurative Philanthropy for Arts & Culture is open for applications.!
Closing date | 17 December
Find out more figurative.org.uk/news/arts-fo...
Brilliant work from the Music Venue Trust as ever!
11.11.2025 11:51 — 👍 0 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
The investment period for our Arts & Culture Impact Fund (ACIF) has been extended until 2027!
Read more figurative.org.uk/news/major-i...
Thanks to @artscouncilengland.bsky.social, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Better Society Capital, Nesta, @esmeefairbairn.bsky.social & Freelands Foundation.
Map of the UK with a selection of lightly coloured circles demonstrating where organisations are that Figurative has supported.
As part of our anniversary, we've created an interactive map to shine a spotlight on the organisations we've supported across the cultural sector - from community theatres transforming young lives to museums preserving our heritage.
🔎 Explore our map here: figurative.org.uk/resource/cel...
Figurative is a new charity specialising in social impact investing for arts and culture organisations.
To learn how we can work with you, watch our story here: youtu.be/Dc-IZ_oqkG4?...
#ArtsAndCulture #ImpactInvesting #SocialImpact #CreativeIndustries #CulturalSector #Philanthropy
Last year, Figurative launched as an independent not-for-profit, spinning out of Nesta with a bold mission: to revolutionise arts funding & build financial resilience across the cultural & creative sector.
Check out our infographic for a snapshot of our work, to see what the team have been up to!
✨ Figurative would like to thank our collaborators Upkar Arora, Jayne Lovelock, Annabelle Camp, Lisa Alberti, David Maggs, and the team at Metcalf Foundation for their invaluable insights throughout this process.
19.08.2025 10:00 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Five dancers posed on stage in a dramatic position with a dark red lighting. Text reads: Setting the Stage - A Guide to Creating Impact Investment Initiatives in the Cultural and Creative Sectors.
We're excited to be publishing our new guide Setting the Stage today! The guide offers actionable guidance for funders, policymakers & cultural sector leaders considering impact investment initiatives.
➡️ figurative.org.uk/resource/set...
#CulturalImpactInvestment #ArtsFinance #CreativeEconomy
The Collaboration Canvas is a practical toolkit for UK cultural & creative orgs - from informal alliances to full mergers. Huge thanks to our contributors & brilliant case studies Creative Newham, Diverse City, Cirque Bijou & Fabric who brought the report to life. Download rb.gy/3gpmow
30.07.2025 10:49 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
🎉 We're thrilled to share our latest free resource: The Collaboration Canvas: Tools for Creative Partnerships. Created with @eastside-people.bsky.social to demystify collaboration & unlock new opportunities. Download: rb.gy/3gpmow
#CollaborationCanvas #CulturalSector #ArtsCollaboration #UKCreatives
We’re delighted to share that we have been officially registered as an independent charity by Charity Commission for England and Wales!
✨ You can read more about our new status here: figurative.org.uk/news/figurat...
When it comes to culture and the creative industries, any new government strategy provokes new questions. The latest Creative Industries Sector Plan is no exception, writes Jason Jones-Hall. www.artsprofessional.co.uk/magazine/fea...
24.07.2025 11:37 — 👍 1 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0We are delighted to have been chosen as one of six cultural organisations to feature as a case study in the Private Investment in the Cultural Sector report, commissioned by @artscouncilengland.bsky.social to explore our work bringing more private investment into the cultural & creative sector.
02.07.2025 15:47 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
In the latest Private Investment in Culture Survey, The Audience Agency finds that private investment – although growing – is outweighed by rising costs.
It shows that, in the mixed funding model of the creative sector, public funding is key.
Read more 👇
buff.ly/oKKwtnG
The UK’s culture sector is under threat, and the country is at risk of losing its global reputation for excellence, former Shadow Culture Secretary Thangam Debbonaire has told parliament.
30.06.2025 15:50 — 👍 4 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0Figurative is delighted to support @musicvenueprop.bsky.social (MVP) with a second impact investment loan of £500,000. MVP has impact across the UK as it brings grassroots music venues under community ownership, protecting their vital contributions to local neighbourhoods & the UK’s music scene. 👏
25.06.2025 12:47 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Music Venue Properties (MVP) is pleased to confirm that we will receive a second £500,000 loan from impact investment group Figurative, longstanding supporters of our mission to secure the future of UK grassroots music venues.
24.06.2025 17:04 — 👍 6 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 1Huge thanks to all our brilliant speakers! @oonaghtweets.bsky.social @artscouncilengland.bsky.social England, Emma Cooper @innovateuk.bsky.social UK, Jesse Ringham @ Jesse James Agency and Nema Hart @artscouncilengland.bsky.social England. 👏
18.06.2025 11:53 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
If you missed our practical webinar exploring the use of AI in the creative & cultural sector and the funding opportunities available - you can now watch the webinar here! figurative.org.uk/resource/ai-...
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Creative Mind Funds for Scottish museums is now open - check this out...
12.06.2025 09:24 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Future Yard are just one of the many brilliant arts and cultural organisations we support through impact investment. Thanks for sharing @goodfinanceuk.bsky.social!
You can find out more about what we do here: www.figurative.org.uk
Today is #WorldEnvironmentDay and later this summer, we're going to share new research commissioned by @artscouncilengland.bsky.social and the @creativepec.bsky.social with partners Renew Culture, Buro Happold & MGAC.
Sign up to our newsletter to find out more! figurative.org.uk/newsletter-s...
