Extending organisational reach beyond arts sector funding

18 Jul 2014

Topology co-founder and Education Director Christa Powell and Development/Communities Manager Kirstie Page share their thoughts on exploring alternative avenues to secure organisational funding support…

Like many other arts organisations, Topology encountered a cross-road at the end of 2013 that had the potential to affect its ongoing financial viability. Galvanised into action, we immediately identified a need to extend Topology’s financial reach beyond the realm of traditional arts sector funding sources to ensure the organisation had capacity to remain sustainable into the future.

From the moment the decision to pursue alternative funding sources was made, we acknowledged it was paramount that all potential ‘outside the arts-sector box’ funding opportunities remained completely aligned with Topology’s two key platforms: Topology Creates and Topology Engages. We recognised to not do so could have placed the organisation in danger of receiving a short-term financial boost, but creating long-term damage to the strength and credibility of Topology’s brand out in the marketplace.

Concurrently, we made a strategic decision to identify what programs Topology already had in place that had the potential to secure funding support from other sectors beyond the arts. Topology’s education program ‘Top Up’, which has run for over 17 years to great acclaim, immediately stood out as having an ability to seamlessly and interchangeably transfer between arts, education and community sector funding opportunities.

An investigation of various community grant funding programs available to not-for-profit organisations quickly identified Queensland State Government’s Gambling and Community Benefit Fund (GBCF) as a potential source of financial assistance. Like any robust grant application process undertaken by an organisation, the guidelines were carefully studied in the first instance. We also carefully researched past grant recipients to determine the nature of facilities, resources and programs that had been successful in previously securing funding. This assessment very quickly determined that the Top Up education program had the capacity to make a strong application.

As part of working tirelessly to submit an application, we focussed on four factors considered crucial to increasing our likelihood of a successful outcome:

• Very carefully addressing every single assessment criterion over the course of the application. Further, being able to succinctly and clearly articulate what Topology needed funding support for and to also strongly justify why funding support should be awarded;
• Ensuring the funding request included resources that could be identified by assessing officers as clearly enhancing program delivery and offering excellent return for investment;
• Substantial effort was made to nurture and receive additional support from a diverse range of not-for-profit sector organisations to demonstrate that Topology had strong community ties; and
• Most importantly, demonstrating that the Top Up program would extend beyond traditional music education benefits to also support and empower communities all around Queensland.

To our delight, adopting this approach not only secured a GCBF win, it has subsequently opened up a range of new possibilities to support and strengthen Topology’s sustainability into the future.

We consider that whilst this type of approach will never be able to replace arts sector funding support, it has demonstrated that community grant funding programs do have the ability to support arts sector organisations. For us however, the greatest benefit of community grant funding opportunities is realising an opportunity to support and empower people and communities all around Queensland and beyond.

Christa Powell (B. Mus (Hons), M. Mus (Dist)), violinist and one of Topology’s founders, has been a steadying influence and driving force behind the 17-year strong music organisation. From the start Christa has helped steer Topology, running the day-to-day business almost single-handedly in the early years to molding, shaping and refining the Company into the respected Arts Organisation it is today. Currently Christa is Performance Artist, Board member and Director of Top Up, Topology’s Education Program.

Kirstie Page (B. Mus (Hons), Grad. Dip. Ed (Secondary), Grad. Dip. Kodaly (Hungary), M. Arts (Organisational Communications)) has spent many years working in a diverse array of roles across all levels of education as well as in government and arts sectors. She has recently joined Topology as Development/Communities Manager.

As artists-in-residence at Brisbane Powerhouse, Topology is acknowledged as one of Australia’s foremost music organisations, renowned for their range of exciting and energetic original work across many music genres.

Feature photo:  Courtesy of Topology