Support the Lucy Phillips Arts Fund

One year after the launch, thanks to the generosity of everyone who has donated so far, the Lucy Phillips Arts Fund has raised over £20,000 and has made its first round of grants to a fabulous bunch of artists.

Donations have exceeded the original fundraising target of £20,000 and so today on what would have been Lucy’s 56th birthday, we are raising that target to £30,000. Together we can nurture more of the kind of arts activity that Lucy loved and supported with her creativity, openness, intelligence and compassion.

The Lucy Phillips Arts Fund provides small grants to people working in the visual arts, printmaking, ceramics, music, theatre, film, comedy, dance and other art forms in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. It supports activities that champion and celebrate the arts, as well as artistic collaborations and activities that develop the leadership skills of artists.

Lucy Phillips was a much-loved friend and family member who touched the lives of many people. She died suddenly in spring 2024 and the Lucy Phillips Arts Fund was set up in tribute to her life and legacy.

Lucy was a hugely popular leader of arts and culture and an enthusiastic advocate for new and diverse artists and arts organisations. She had been Director at Leicester Print Workshop, the centre for excellence for fine art printing in the East Midlands; worked as an international fundraiser for Home Start; chaired the Aakash Odedra Dance Company; helped run a ceramics festival and put her creative talent behind numerous arts initiatives. Her role at Nottingham Trent University introduced her to more creatives and earned her much love and respect. Lucy had been a key member of Leicester’s bid to become UK City of Culture in 2017. She was also part of the Riotous Collective female punk movement, developing a big new fan base with the band, the Boilers.

The Lucy Phillips Arts Fund was set up by a panel of Lucy’s friends and family and all the money raised is administered by a registered charity, the Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Community Foundation (donation receipts will come from them). Keep in touch on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LucyPhillipsArtsFund

You can get involved in fundraising in many ways. Lucy had a delightful love of the ridiculous, so any idea goes! Some ways you could raise money for the Lucy Phillips Arts Fund include:

• Make a cash donation

• Organise a fundraising event like a Bake Off

• Hold a quiz night and ask for entry/ donations (Lucy loved quizzes!)

• Organise a gig or performance and donate the ticket price

• Seek sponsorship for a run, walk, dance – whatever you enjoy

• Organise an art show and donate the proceeds

• Declutter to sell unwanted items/ clothing and donate the income

• Ask for donations not presents for your birthday or anniversary

Thank you for your support.