Funding the National Embroidery Centre - Manchester

The Guild has been fortunate to receive support for its programme, and in its development work, from many companies and grant-giving bodies, including the Crafts Council, the Foundation for Sport and the Arts, the Broderers' Charity Trust, the Daphne Bulward Trust, the Dennis Curry Trust, Coats Crafts U.K. Husqvarna, Madeira Threads, Bernina, Kreinik, and the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.

Since 1997 the Embroiderers' Guild has been in receipt of a £0.5m development grant, funded by the National Lottery, through the Arts Council of England's Stabilisation programme. In addition to development work for the capital project, the Guild's Stabilisation strategy is developing the organisation, its artistic and educational programme, and its resources, systems and management.

The project is spearheaded by the Guild's Director, Michael Spender, who has 20 years' experience in managing galleries and membership organisations, including the successful move of the Royal Watercolour Society to the Bankside Gallery.

Charles Wilson, our Consultant Project Manager, is Lancashire based and has over 30 years' experience in design, execution and management of projects of varying kinds, including lottery projects. June Carter with 10 years' experience of fundraising, including capital projects, has been appointed Development Manager to co-ordinate the fundraising appeal.

The Embroiderers' Guild was successful in obtaining a Stage 2 National Lottery grant from the Arts Council of England. Provided the Stage 3 application is successful later in the year, £2.5m is reserved for the Guild from the National Lottery through the Arts Council.

Through Manchester City Council, a major application was submitted for European Regional Development Funding. This application resulted in a grant of £2m being awarded, in principle, for the new centre. A fundraising appeal to match the lead funding will be launched in due course.

In 1999 the Guild launched the 2000 Cushions project inviting members to make a cushion to help raise development funds to match the Arts Council's Stage 2 grant.

The project was enormously successful. The cushions, from as far afield as Japan and New Zealand, toured thirteen stately homes and castles throughout the length and breadth of the UK. The 2000 Cushions project raised an amazing �23,000 towards the development costs for the National Embroidery Centre - Manchester.

Further information on Guild Members' fundraising achievements, with features and photos, is shown on the Guild Members' fundraising page.

Creating a national embroidery centre is the most challenging and exciting project the Guild has undertaken in its history. We have an enormous task ahead of us to raise the funding required, but we are confident that we will succeed.