The days of philanthropic sponsorship dictated by the chairman’s
personal tastes are over, according to arts minister Mark Fisher MP.
Speaking at the launch of the Energy Group’s pounds 870,000 sponsorship
of the National Youth Theatre last week, Fisher hailed a new era of a
’two-way mutual advantage’ to both the arts and business.
Fisher was joined by the NYT patron Prince Edward to announce the Energy
Group’s backing, which will cover production and core costs to the tune
of around one-third of the NYT’s annual operating costs each year.
The sponsorship, described as a ’red letter day for the NYT’ by Prince
Edward, forms part of the Energy Group’s rebranding exercise, following
its demerger from Hanson earlier this year. In other words, just the
kind of objective-driven approach to sponsorship which Fisher
applauds.
Ironic then that, according to Energy Group chairman Derek Bonham, the
fact that daughter of financial director Eric Anstee formerly trod the
boards at the NYT, helped to oil the lock on the Energy Group coffer.
