Seeds of Change
We are delighted to announce that the 2024 Seeds of Change £10,000 prize fund has been awarded to Edinburgh based gallery Fruitmarket for its innovative Future Makers project. Congratulations!
Future Makers is a mentoring programme investing in the future of eco-conscious making, selling and buying. It will support 10 local makers over 12 months to create bespoke products that are ethically and sustainably produced. Find out more
Seeds of Change is a new annual prize fund designed to support and encourage sustainable initiatives within the cultural sector. Three projects were shortlisted for the 2024 prize, based on their creativity and potential to be replicated across the sector, inspiring other venues to think about sustainable ways of generating income.
The Finalists
The Judges
Thank you to our Seeds of Change judging panel for their valuable input and expertise:
- Fi Anderson, Creative Development Manager, Cultural Enterprises
- Laura Cave, Director, Just Trade
- Tom Dawson, Director of Digital, Cultural Enterprises
- Chris Gilbert, Director of Finance and Resources, The London Library and Cultural Enterprises Trustee
- Matthew Henderson, Freelance and Cultural Enterprises Trustee
- Louise Kirby, Director of Operations and People, The Deep
- Jennifer Leaman, Global Head of Environment and Product Sustainability, Clarks
- Gordon Morrison, CEO, Cultural Enterprises
- Laura Mullins, Head of Trading, London Transport Museum
- Rachel Wicking, Gift Buyer, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
Thank you also to our event sponsor Green Tourism for supporting Seeds of Change and bringing their expertise in environmental responsibility.
The standard of applications for Seeds of Change has been exceptionally high. The three finalists stand out for their innovative approaches to environmental challenges, ambitious goals, and demonstrable impact.
Jennifer Leaman, Global Head of Environment and Product Sustainability, Clarks
More About the Prize
1. Foster Sustainability: Encourage cultural organisations to incorporate sustainable practices in their income generating operations and project delivery, reducing their environmental impact and promoting a more sustainable future.
2. Community Engagement: Support projects that actively engage local communities, providing educational and interactive experiences that raise awareness of sustainability and empower individuals to adopt sustainable practices.
3. Innovation and Collaboration: Encourage the use of innovative materials and technologies in the design and delivery of commercial cultural projects, fostering creativity and pushing boundaries to achieve sustainable outcomes.
4. Legacy Building: Equip cultural organisations with the necessary tools, knowledge, and resources to develop and deliver sustainable projects, promoting long-term sustainability within the sector.
2. Community Engagement: Support projects that actively engage local communities, providing educational and interactive experiences that raise awareness of sustainability and empower individuals to adopt sustainable practices.
3. Innovation and Collaboration: Encourage the use of innovative materials and technologies in the design and delivery of commercial cultural projects, fostering creativity and pushing boundaries to achieve sustainable outcomes.
4. Legacy Building: Equip cultural organisations with the necessary tools, knowledge, and resources to develop and deliver sustainable projects, promoting long-term sustainability within the sector.
You can apply for any amount of funding up to £10,000. The prize fund supports:
1. The establishment of a new sustainable income stream.
2. Commissioning research or consultancy to support the introduction of a sustainable income stream.
3. Buying equipment or services to lower carbon emissions.
4. Creating tools to communicate and educate visitors in environmental responsibility eg marketing and design.
1. The establishment of a new sustainable income stream.
2. Commissioning research or consultancy to support the introduction of a sustainable income stream.
3. Buying equipment or services to lower carbon emissions.
4. Creating tools to communicate and educate visitors in environmental responsibility eg marketing and design.
Current Members and Associate Members of the Association for Cultural Enterprises situated in the UK are eligible to apply.
The application must support a new initiative, not an existing one.
Proposed projects should have a clear focus on sustainability and align with the program objectives.
The project should clearly demonstrate how it will contribute to sustainable income generation or making your organisation more financially secure.
Projects should have a defined timeline, demonstrating the ability to be completed within the allocated funding and time frame.
Applications must outline the intended impact on any of our objectives and engagement with the project.
Organisations should demonstrate their capacity to deliver the proposed project successfully.
The fund can support existing staff in delivery of the project, but must be used to deliver something new and not cover core expenditure.
The application must support a new initiative, not an existing one.
Proposed projects should have a clear focus on sustainability and align with the program objectives.
The project should clearly demonstrate how it will contribute to sustainable income generation or making your organisation more financially secure.
Projects should have a defined timeline, demonstrating the ability to be completed within the allocated funding and time frame.
Applications must outline the intended impact on any of our objectives and engagement with the project.
Organisations should demonstrate their capacity to deliver the proposed project successfully.
The fund can support existing staff in delivery of the project, but must be used to deliver something new and not cover core expenditure.
Applications close 29 March 2024.
Winners will be chosen by the Association for Cultural Enterprises from all complete entries received before the closing date. The decision of the Association for Cultural Enterprises regarding any aspect of the competition is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into.
Winners will be announced at an exclusive event in June 2024.
While the project outcomes and impact may exceed 12 months we expect the prize fund to be invoiced within the first year.
We will issue the prize fund within 30 working days of the prize announcement.
Winners will be chosen by the Association for Cultural Enterprises from all complete entries received before the closing date. The decision of the Association for Cultural Enterprises regarding any aspect of the competition is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into.
Winners will be announced at an exclusive event in June 2024.
While the project outcomes and impact may exceed 12 months we expect the prize fund to be invoiced within the first year.
We will issue the prize fund within 30 working days of the prize announcement.
We have referenced the UN Sustainable Development Goals while developing the award. We would recommend reading goals 8, 9, 11, and 12 from the UN sustainability goals when making your application.
Goal 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth (Sustainable Tourism & Green Economy)
Goal 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Goal 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities (Sustainable Transport)
Goal 12 Responsible Consumption and Production (17% of total food waste is wasted at the consumer level)
Goal 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth (Sustainable Tourism & Green Economy)
Goal 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Goal 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities (Sustainable Transport)
Goal 12 Responsible Consumption and Production (17% of total food waste is wasted at the consumer level)
Seeds of Change supports the wider Arts Council England’s Investment Principle: Environmental Sustainability and Dynamism. The Association is an Investment Principles Support Organisation (IPSO).
Environmental Sustainability – Demonstrating how you will embed environmental thinking in everything you do, from operations and logistics toconsidering how creation, programming and partnerships can help support your commitment and provoke debate.Collect, analyse and communicate your environmental data.
Demonstrate how this project contributes to your wider environmental commitment.
Provide relevant training from your data, experiences and outcomes with your team and the wider sector.
Dynamism – Responding to the challenges of the next decade and creating a business model that is flexible and able to adapt to changing environments. Understanding the value upi create for the communities you serve, whilst considering the needs of those you are yet to reach. Demonstrate how you will take an entrepreneurial approach to developing and optimising your income streams and innovate your business model.
Recognise the diverse knowledge, skills and experience within your team and commit time and resources to continue to develop your team.
Use data to aid strategic decision making, to share with the wider sector and ensure that skills and confidence is built up across your organisation.
Environmental Sustainability – Demonstrating how you will embed environmental thinking in everything you do, from operations and logistics toconsidering how creation, programming and partnerships can help support your commitment and provoke debate.Collect, analyse and communicate your environmental data.
Demonstrate how this project contributes to your wider environmental commitment.
Provide relevant training from your data, experiences and outcomes with your team and the wider sector.
Dynamism – Responding to the challenges of the next decade and creating a business model that is flexible and able to adapt to changing environments. Understanding the value upi create for the communities you serve, whilst considering the needs of those you are yet to reach. Demonstrate how you will take an entrepreneurial approach to developing and optimising your income streams and innovate your business model.
Recognise the diverse knowledge, skills and experience within your team and commit time and resources to continue to develop your team.
Use data to aid strategic decision making, to share with the wider sector and ensure that skills and confidence is built up across your organisation.