Support What Next?

Why Support What Next?

At a time of significant change for the cultural sector, there is an increasing need for independent spaces where people can come together to share knowledge, build relationships and shape the future of arts and culture.

What Next? is the UK’s largest independent, free-to-access movement for arts and culture. We bring together freelancers, small and large cultural organisations, funders and policymakers to share ideas, policy and debate the issues facing the sector. Through our network of regional Chapters and UK-wide conversations, we connect local experience with national dialogue, ensuring that the breadth of the UK’s cultural ecology informs thinking, policy and collective action.

What Next? is independent, collaborative and led by the sector. We do not seek to speak on behalf of the arts and culture sector but we create trusted spaces where people with different perspectives can learn from one another, challenge assumptions and build shared understanding. Our regional Chapters strengthen local relationships while contributing to national conversations, ensuring that ideas, experience and insight flow in both directions across the movement.

Our Impact

Through the generosity of our supporters, this year What Next? has:

  • Convened fortnightly UK-wide conversations exploring the most significant issues affecting arts and culture.
  • Supported a network of regional Chapters across the UK, enabling people to build relationships, share knowledge and respond to local priorities.
  • Connected freelancers, cultural organisations, artists, funders and policymakers in conversations that inform national policy and sector thinking.
  • Enabled people from across the movement to contribute to consultations, roundtables and advocacy, ensuring that a wide range of voices helps shape decision-making.

You can explore examples of our recent work and impact here.

Our Priorities

Everything we do is focused on three priorities:

  1. Influencing policy by ensuring the experience and expertise of the cultural sector informs decision-making and strengthens the case for arts and culture.
  2. Strengthening the sector by creating opportunities for shared learning, collaboration and connection across organisations, disciplines and places.
  3. Building a more inclusive movement by diversifying leadership, widening participation and removing barriers so that more people can contribute to and benefit from What Next?.

Why Your Support Matters

What Next? is made possible by a dedicated network of volunteer Chapter Chairs, our Leadership Group and Directors, supported by a small freelance team that coordinates activity across the UK. Together, we ensure that participation remains free, accessible and inclusive, supporting people to contribute their expertise, respond to emerging issues and strengthen the resilience of the cultural sector.

We rely on the generosity of trusts, foundations, organisations and individuals to sustain this work. Every contribution helps us support regional Chapters, convene national conversations, provide access support, strengthen collaboration and ensure that What Next? remains an independent space where people can come together to think, connect and act.

If you believe that the UK needs an open, independent movement where the breadth of the cultural sector can come together to learn from one another and help shape the future of arts and culture, we hope you will consider supporting What Next?.

Together, we can ensure that this movement continues to connect people, strengthen the sector and create the conditions for arts and culture to thrive.

Our needs:
What Next? is led by three part-time freelancers, who work together with the Directors, and a Leadership Group of cultural leaders, and with the local knowledge and expertise of our regional Chapter Chairs.

The work we do costs £150,000 a year. This includes strategic programmes, professional fees, movement grants, access costs, and overheads.

Over the last five years we have been supported through the generosity of trusts and foundations (Paul Hamlyn, Esmee Fairbairn, Calouste Gulbenkian, Clore Duffield, Foyle, Mackintosh, and the Theatre Development Trust) as well as the support of Arts Council England, and vital donations from cultural organisations and individuals.

We urgently need financial support from the sector to continue the work we do. 

  • Are you or your colleagues attendees at What Next? meetings, either the UK-wide meetings online or meetings in your region?
  • Do you value the information, advocacy and community?
  • Do you recognise its importance to continue?

Please donate to What Next?

You can click the button below to make a donation via PayPal, or email info@whatnextculture.co.uk if you would prefer to receive an invoice.

We are absolutely reliant on your donations to keep going. To survive as an independent space to shape the future of the arts & culture, we need financial contributions from you.

If you are an organisation: We ask you to consider a:

  • Contribute £4,000: organisations with £1 million or more worth of  funding p/y
  • Contribute £1,500: organisations with £250,000 – £999,999 worth of funding p/y
  • Contribute £250: organisations with £40,000 – £249,999 worth of funding p/y

If you are an individual: We ask you to contribute £25 a year or £5 per month.

Everyone is welcome at What Next?

What Next? is not a membership organisation but donations are most gratefully received to help us continue our work in an independent space. Your donation doesn’t buy a seat at the table—it helps ensure the table remains open for everyone.

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