Achates Philanthropy Prize announced RAMM as one of the eight arts organisations in their National Showcase, taking top place in the South West.
The Achates Philanthropy Prize is the national campaign to promote support for the arts. Launched in 2016, the aim is to encourage cultural organisations to strategically engage with first-time donors of all levels.
Normally, Achates awards a prize that celebrates cultural giving, but this year they wanted to shine a light on the work organisations such as RAMM are doing throughout the pandemic.
A 19-strong panel of judges, representing some respected cultural and philanthropy organisations, selected RAMM as the South West Project. The showcase celebrates the many ways in which art generates value – looking beyond economic value alone to encompass intrinsic value. It considers proven benefits such as benefits to mental health, physical health and social wellbeing, community building, educational value and innovation.
RAMM at Home
The judges were impressed by RAMM at Home, a twelve-week artistic challenge series that invited the public to create their very own miniature museum, based on our collection. We set a brand new challenge every Friday, such as how to draw a picture of Gerald, RAMM’s resident giraffe; how to make a Roman Centurion from a paintbrush; and how to paint a woodpecker on a rock. More than 1,000 people watched the YouTube films, with a further 1,700 people engaging via our website. We also distributed 500 physical packs to those unable to access online resources.
“The National Showcase marks how at a dark time, arts organisations across the UK have risen to the challenge and responded to the priorities of their communities. The question of who owns and controls art has changed during the pandemic thanks to this groundswell of organisations who are actively seeking to engage more deeply with their audiences and communities.
The breadth of work showcased underlines the many ways in which arts organisations bring impact… We hope it will inspire and inform the work delivered under the next wave of the pandemic, and drive a greater appreciation for the ecosystem which not only supports resilience but gives the arts its range and richness.” – Achates Philanthropy Foundation Chair, Caroline McCormick
Find out more about the National Showcase, including other National Showcase selections, here. Read the Achates press release here.
