NPG - Minutes and Papers of the Development Council Meetings, formerly called Development Board

The aim of the Development Board, as recorded in a mission statement prepared in 1998, was to provide support and advice on all aspects of fundraising particularly from the corporate sector. In 1999 an updated statement records that the aims and objectives of the Board were to: help define the strategy for reaching the Gallery's fundraising targets; maximise corporate support for the Gallery's Corporate Membership Scheme and temporary exhibitions; identify areas of interest from potential sponsors to be considered for future Gallery exhibitions; recommend the Gallery for corporate hire and facilitate introductions to the Gallery at a senior level. Other aspects of fundraising were also discussed at the meetings, including the role of the Gallery's Associates and Patrons, American Friends and Corporate Partners. Discussions also included potential acquisitions, support from trusts and foundations and fundraising events.

The Development Board was made up of between 12-16 individuals. Meetings were attended by members of Gallery staff including the Director, Director of Communications and Development, Deputy Director, Head of Finance and Planning, Head of Corporate Development and the Corporate Development Manager. Non-Gallery members are made up of individuals working in the corporate world and Gallery Patrons who are invited to join the Board.

Invited members include Chairmen, Directors, Executives or other senior management staff of major companies in fields such as advertising, consultancy, media and finance and FTSE 100 companies. New members are suggested by existing members of the Board, voted for, and then invited to join. Their role is to advise the Gallery on potential opportunities to raise funds through corporate sponsorship and individual giving donations.

Papers routinely taken to meetings include: Head of Department's report (Communications & Development report); and since 2004 corporate membership income summary; and update on corporate fundraising.

In 2011 the Development Board changed to become the Development Council, performing the same function but with a different structure which results in only one or two meetings per year. No meetings were held in 2011 and therefore there are no minutes or papers for that year.

The Development Board was established in 1995. It met sporadically between 1996 and 1998 when it was constituted as a sub-committee of the Board of Trustees. Thereafter meetings were scheduled regularly four times a year, at least one week before Board of Trustee meetings. In 2001 meetings were again sporadic and in 2002 the Board was re-formed by combining the Board of Patrons and the Development Board. Since 2004 meetings have been held twice a year. All meetings are minuted.

Available to view by appointment in the Heinz Archive and Library Public Study Room, to make an appointment contact Archive Reception . Although records are generally available for public consultation, some information in them, such as personal data or information supplied to the Gallery in confidence, may be restricted.

The complete catalogue for this archive can be searched via the NPG Archive Catalogue .

Personal photography is permitted for research purposes only. Photocopying is not permitted.

A separate working group of the Board was the Corporate Advisory Group (CAG), which disbanded in 2009. The CAG met four times a year to discuss corporate support and fundraising and the minutes are held in the Archive (reference NPG54).