Kate King-Smith, Anne and Joe O’Meara and Jennifer and Allan Buckle have all been
nominated as Cultural Champions for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra,
representing the wider membership of the CBSO’s Chair Endowers scheme.
Photo CBSO.
As the shadow of austerity looms large over the arts world, the passionate support and dedication given by thousands of individuals and businesses to cultural organisations throughout the country, has never been so vital.
The Arts & Business Cultural Champions initiative recognises and acknowledges the wide and diverse contributions of those donating to the arts, whether it’s their time, expertise or money, support in all its forms is invaluable.
The next Cultural Champions reception will take place on Tuesday 5 October at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
The call for nominations has gone out for Cultural Champions in the Midlands, and already inspiring and innovative stories are coming in of how people are supporting the arts in their region. One such story is that of Beresford and Kate King-Smith, Anne and Joe O’Meara and Jennifer and Allan Buckle, all nominated as Cultural Champions for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, representing the wider membership of the CBSO’s Chair Endowers scheme.
Being original members of Chair Endowers, a membership programme matching individuals to one of the 90 musicians in the orchestra, this group of dedicated individuals have not only donated thousands of pounds over the years, they have acted as loyal ambassadors for the orchestra in Birmingham and beyond as well as actively encouraging the growth of the individual giving programme. From its humble beginnings of only 9 members a decade ago, to the present day where more than 70 ‘champions’ have their very own musician (some of whom now even go ‘on the road’ with their players!), it goes without saying that these loyal supporters have helped the orchestra go from strength to strength.