Theatres, galleries and other arts organisations will soon hear the news about Arts Council England funding decisions from 2012.

The government hopes philanthropists will help fill the funding gaps. In 2009/10, individuals donated more than £350m to the arts in the UK. But 88% of that went to the top 4% of organisations. Government plans for arts philanthropy looking forward are:

• £80m of private money to be matched by government and Lottery funds over four years
• Different schemes proposed to help bodies of all sizes across the country
• Experienced fundraisers to act as mentors to others
• Fundraising training to be made available

How easy will it be for arts bodies big and small across the UK to tap into private donations? To read about the experiences of three organisations in the world of philanthropy click here