Partnering
The pros and cons of partnering in arts activity
For some years now those of us working in the arts and cultural sector have been getting the message that partnerships and collaborative activity are the way to get ahead and to get the money we need for survival. Funding bodies have often focused on partnering as a necessary condition for accessing financial support for an activity.
This has been a valuable exercise in many ways because it has made us take the blinkers off and have a good look around at the assets in our communities. It has encouraged the identification of partners outside our field of operation. It has found us knocking on the doors of businesses whose interests match our own and out looking for like-minded philanthropists.
While in the past a friendly sponsor may have been happy to hand over their contribution just to see your project succeed, more and more businesses and philanthropists are seeking real relationships. While this may seem a good move it is important to think through what ‘real’ partnering means. Here are some of the pros and cons to keep in mind.
| Pros | Cons |
| Increase in financial resources | Possible extra costs in servicing and maintaining the partnership |
| Potential for creating a better product | Increased demand on your time |
| Building the capacity of your organisation by learning from the partner | Availability of skills in your organization to handle the people side of the partnership |
| Your organisation’s legitimacy and recognition increased by the status of the partner | Reputation risk if the partner’s image and goals are not compatible |
| Improved networking opportunities | Increase in paperwork |
| Diversification of audience | Servicing an increased database |
Resources
Tourism Queensland - www.tq.com.au
Go to www.ourcommunity.com.au and type the word ‘partnership’ into the search box and you will find a wealth of information and resources around partnering with other organisations. Refer to the Help Sheets Gaining Grants for your Partnership – Finding the Right Grant Program for Your Partnership and Gaining Grants for your Partnership - The Basic Components of Writing a Grant Proposal, both available at the partnerships Brokerage Service section of the Our Community website.
‘The Reality Underneath the Buzz of Partnerships’. Francie Ostrower. Stanford Innovation Review. 2008. www.ssireview.com
Search using the title.
‘Perfect Fit or Shotgun Marriage? Understanding the Power and Pitfalls in Partnerships’. Xavier de Souza Briggs. The Art and Science of community Problem-Solving Project at Harvard University. May 2003.