Edinburgh Art Festival

In 2023, the organisation went through a period of significant transition. Under the leadership of new Director Kim McAleese, EAF sought to redefine its vision and mission and amend its business plan.

To navigate this complex period, Edinburgh Art Festival partnered with CultureXcelerator, a business support programme for the cultural sector delivered by Social Investment Scotland (SIS) and Creative Scotland. Through tailored support from SIS Associate Marcella Boyle, the organisation achieved several key outcomes, including board development, the adoption of a robust ethical fundraising policy and the identification of new potential funding sources. The CultureXcelerator partnership proved invaluable in helping EAF position itself for future growth and success.

Before joining the CultureXcelerator programme, EAF was undergoing a period of transition. New Director Kim McAleese had redefined the organisation’s vision and mission, updating the business plan to ensure a balanced set of outcomes were being achieved, which expanded beyond the summer festival period.

It became evident that this important transition required the updating of several key policies and the support of a board with a broad range of expertise. Furthermore, the delivery of this new plan, plus the day-to-day operations of the business, rested with a small team of core staff.

As a new director with ambitious goals for EAF, Kim recognised the importance of securing support to help the organisation navigate this period of transition and achieve its objectives of amplifying its impact in the visual arts.

The bespoke nature of the CultureXcelerator appealed to Kim, and the organisation was accepted to the business support programme. EAF received four days of dedicated support from SIS Associate Marcella Boyle, who offered tailored guidance during this period of change.

To align the board with the organisation's new goals, Kim leveraged Marcella’s expertise to develop a board pack and advertise for new positions. This effort resulted in the recruitment of five new trustees with a breadth of experience that complemented EAF's new mission.

Next, Marcella and Kim identified that EAF needed a robust ethical fundraising policy.  They collaborated to create a policy which has now been adopted, and the organisation is confident to stand behind it. Furthermore, Kim was happy to share this policy with other smaller organisations - a ripple effect supporting the development of responsible fundraising within the cultural sector.

Additionally, EAF benefited from CultureXcelerator support through Marcella's expertise in grant writing, proposal development, and fundraising strategy. She delivered sessions dedicated to reviewing the organisation’s applications and shared her network of potential funders, providing valuable resources for the organisation.

The partnership with CultureXcelerator had a significant impact on Edinburgh Art Festival. Director Kim McAleese can point to multiple specific outcomes as a direct result of joining the programme, including the recruitment of five new trustees with valuable expertise, a robust ethical fundraising policy ensuring that the festival's fundraising practices align with its values and strengthened leadership as the new director gained confidence in board management, fundraising strategies, and organisational development.

Edinburgh Art Festival's participation in the CultureXcelerator programme was a resounding success. The tailored support and guidance provided by Marcella enabled the organisation to address its key challenges and achieve significant improvements in board development, fundraising, and leadership. The partnership has positioned the Edinburgh Art Festival for continued growth and success in the years to come.