Deafinitely Theatre receive ACE Catalyst funding

Deafinitely Theatre today announce that they are to receive ACE Catalyst funding of £28,090. This fund supports organisations to build fundraising capacity to enable them to attract more private giving to arts and culture. This is one of the measures ACE is putting in place to help create a more sustainable and resilient art and culture sector. Deafinitely Theatre will utilise this vital grant to train staff and Board members to build skills in cultivating Individual Giving and Corporate Sponsorship, and provide capacity to expand and improve the environment in which it fundraises, enabling a step change in their ability to raise and sustain philanthropic income.

Paula Garfield, Artistic Director of Deafinitely Theatre said today, “We are delighted to announce that we have been successful in receiving an ACE Catalyst grant. We want to thank Arts Council, England for their continued support. Fundraising for small arts charities like us, as we all know, is hard and we can get easily overlooked for funding opportunities. We are grateful to receive vital NPO and other funding from ACE over the last 15 years. This vital Catalyst funding will raise Deafinitely’s ability to sustain our income and generate more resilience, developing our skills in fundraising for the future.”

Joyce Wilson, London Area Director, Arts Council England, commented: “I am delighted to see this investment in Deafinitely Theatre’s plans for a more resilient future through our Catalyst Small Grants programme. It is hugely important for London’s arts and cultural organisations to be able to be more sustainable, resilient and diversify their incomes. I am therefore thrilled that we are able to fund these excellent projects in Camden through our Catalyst fund, and support their fundraising plans.”

Deafinitely Theatre creates bilingual productions of classic and contemporary plays for deaf and hearing audiences that combine the visual storytelling of British Sign Language with the immediacy of spoken English.

The company’s vision is a world where deaf people are a valued part of the national theatre landscape, recognised for the excellence of their work. Deafinitely challenges barriers to training and opportunities, working hard to nurture the next generation of deaf theatre makers and audiences through its continuing programme of productions, consultancy work and education and training activities for young people and adults.