KALĀ x ASAP: Funding and Development in the Arts

Rummana Naqvi, Director of Development of Whitechapel Gallery and Stefan Winker, Director of Goethe Institut, Sri Lanka, discuss the process of funding and development within institutions

Development and funding are crucial for the continuity of not-for-profit institutions. The arts sector, in particular, faces challenges in securing funding within South Asian countries, as preliminary funds often prioritise other sectors such as health, education, and the environment. However, this does not mean that obtaining funds for the arts is impossible.

Rummana Naqvi, Director of Development at the Whitechapel Gallery, and Stefan Winkler, Director of Goethe Institut, Sri Lanka, share their insights and explore the challenges and success stories of the process of receiving funds through various outlets and partnering with different cultural institutions to work on programs and projects for their spaces.

As Rummana works with larger funding bodies to promote the programming of the Whitechapel Gallery, her experience of fundraising differs from Stefan’s. Cultural institutions like the Goethe Institut seek partner funders who can create more networks and collaboration opportunities for their institutions. This talk aims to address key questions, including where funding can be found, the criteria for securing funding, how to craft a successful proposal, and what considerations the institution should account for when applying for funds.

Leveraging their extensive experiences with these international institutions, both Rummana and Stefan will provide valuable insights to help institutions optimise their funding and development experiences.