Careers in the Visual Arts: Strategic Development and Fundraising

We focus on the challenging and vital role of the Development professional, offering essential guidance that could be applied to working in small and large-scale organisations. Led by Stephen Escritt and Darryl de Prez the day will look at different strategies and models of working, funding bodies and their priorities, successful applications, key networks and contacts, capital projects, supporter programmes, commercial activity and corporate engagement.

Partner at Counterculture, Stephen Escritt provides business planning and financial management services to the arts and creative industries. He has worked at the British Museum and the Whitechapel Gallery, where he was Director of Strategic Development and delivered a successful model partnership between a cultural organisation and its local, national and private sector partners.

Head of Development at the Whitechapel Gallery, Darryl de Prez has over 20 years’ experience in fundraising and development, having worked at a range of charities and arts organisations including the National Trust, the Serpentine Gallery and English National Opera. Darryl is Alumni Ambassador at the Courtauld Institute, advising students on careers in arts development.


The Art Fund is supporting the series by offering a number of fully funded places per course for curators and museum and gallery professionals. Applications will open in January 2015.


For any queries or for more information on the course, please contact [email protected]