2. We want to widen access and participation in the arts

The value of the arts was central to Paul Hamlyn’s world view. We continue to believe in the enduring power of the arts as a force for change, enriching people’s lives and communities.

Through this strategic priority, our objective is to support organisations that have ambitious plans to widen access to and deepen participation in the arts. It will not be enough simply to increase numbers: our emphasis is on addressing inequalities of opportunity. Within this priority, we will build on our previous work, including the continuation, development and evaluation of several existing programmes.

Our work under this strategic priority will include:

Access and Participation Fund

‘Explore and test’ grants will enable organisations to research, test and pilot different approaches to widening access and deepening participation. We want to create an environment in which learning about these approaches can be shared with others who may benefit and we expect that some projects that we support will demonstrate the potential to be developed further. We encourage organisations that we have not supported before or who work with audiences and participants that are new to us to apply to this fund.

‘More and better’ grants will support arts and cultural organisations to extend their reach and impact. We want to receive applications with a clear sense of how the learning from this work and evidence of impact can be shared across sectors, peer groups and geography, so partnerships and collaborations will be welcomed.

ArtWorks: Developing Practice in Participatory Settings

Artists, arts organisations, policy makers, funders, employers, commissioners and training providers across the UK are part of a rich and thriving tradition of participatory arts. ArtWorks was set up to build on this tradition by strengthening support for artists. In 2015, we published findings from four years’ research to show how, together, we can give artists the support they need and bring new benefits for everyone with an interest in arts in participatory settings. Three legacy grants to Creative Scotland, Welsh National Opera and Barbican Guildhall will run until March 2017.

Our Museum: Communities and Museums as Active Partners

This programme has been running since early 2012 and is scheduled to finish in March 2016, with a longer-term evaluation plan that will report in 2018. Our Museum is supporting seven museums and galleries through a process of organisational change, through which they place collaborative work at the heart of their organisations, building sustainable partnerships with communities and involving them in decision-making. Our focus is on facilitating organisational change so that participatory work becomes core, embedded, sustainable and less at risk of being marginalised when specific funding streams run out.

Circuit – Connecting young people and galleries to spark change

Launched in December 2013 and running until 2017, Circuit is a programme designed with and for young people, that aims to reach 80,000 young people aged 15–25 and to create a national youth network for the visual arts. It is led by Tate and funded by £5m given as part of our 25th anniversary gift series. Circuit providesac opportunities for young people to steer their own learning and cultural activity across art disciplines. The network spans Cambridgeshire (Wysing Arts Centre and Kettle’s Yard), Colchester (firstsite), Liverpool (Tate Liverpool), Llandudno (MOSTYN), London (Tate Britain and Tate Modern), Manchester (Whitworth Art Gallery), Nottingham (Nottingham Contemporary) and St Ives (Tate St Ives).

Paul Hamlyn Clubs

As part of our 25th anniversary celebrations, five theatres and concert halls, in Truro, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds and Liverpool, were each given £500,000 over five years to widen audiences, with a particular focus on building sustainable relationships with community partners in their local areas. Through the awards, which run until 2018, the venues will develop models that have a long-term impact on diversifying audiences and sustaining involvement and interest. Each venue will develop its own scheme, tailored to local needs and reflecting the values and aspirations of the original ‘Hamlyn Club’ at the Royal Opera House in London and of the Foundation’s involvement in audience development since the early 1990s.

Reading Hack

As a 25th anniversary gift, The Reading Agency was awarded £1m over five years in 2013 to develop its Reading Hack programme. The programme aims to use reading and libraries as a springboard for community activism, engaging with young people to develop inspiring reading, writing and volunteering opportunities in deprived communities, whilst helping them to develop their skills, confidence and employability. The programme encourages young people aged 11–24 to set up reading and writing groups, with the aim of developing peer-to-peer networks within their local communities.