Case Studies - Coaching Memberships
- Forrester Gallery – Supporting a significant arts and culture capital project from funding strategy to implementation
- Shepheress –Supporting a rural storytelling organisation through crisis, recovery and stronger funding planning
- Te Ramaroa Festival – Neslon Light Festival
Forrester Gallery –Waitaki District Council
Supporting a significant arts and culture capital project from funding strategy to implementation
The Forrester Gallery is one of Waitaki’s important cultural assets. Housed in a spectacular neo-classical building originally constructed in 1884 for the Bank of New South Wales, the Gallery offers the Waitaki and wider region a varied exhibition programme, houses a growing collection of artworks significant to the region, and stands as an icon of Ōamaru’s unique historic precinct.
From January 2024 to December 2025, Funding HQ worked with Chloe Searle, Arts and Culture
Manager at Waitaki District Council, through twice-monthly coaching and advisory support. The work focused on helping the Forrester Gallery move from the early stages of capital project funding planning through to implementation, follow-up and funder engagement.
The project
The Forrester Gallery was undertaking a significant capital project in the arts and culture space. To support this, the team needed a clear and practical fundraising approach that could guide planning,
implementation and ongoing funder follow-up.
Funding HQ supported the project over an extended period, helping Chloe and the Waitaki team build a stronger understanding of the funding landscape, shape the right strategy, and move from planning into action.
The challenge:
The Forrester Gallery team needed support to:
- develop a funding strategy for a significant capital project
- understand the current funding landscape
- identify relevant funding opportunities
- move from early-stage planning into implementation
- manage follow-up with funders and supporters
- maintain momentum across a long project timeline
- position an arts and culture capital project clearly and confidently.
The outcomes
Funding HQ became a key part of the Forrester Gallery’s fundraising success. With FHQ’s support, the team moved from early planning into implementation with greater structure, confidence and strategic focus.
The relationship helped the Forrester Gallery strengthen its fundraising approach, better understand the funding landscape and sustain progress across a significant capital project. FHQ’s guidance also supported more effective follow-up with funders and helped the team maintain momentum over a
long project period.
The Forrest Gallery official opened in April 2026.
Testimonial
“Funding HQ were a key part of our fundraising success. Jenni and her team helped guide us from early stages of planning our funding strategy through to implementation and follow up. Everything from Funding HQ was undertaken with genuine interest in our project, exceptional knowledge of the current funding landscape and lots of strategic nous. I would recommend Funding HQ to anyone embarking on a significant capital project in the arts and culture space.”
Chloe Searle
Arts and Culture Manager, Waitaki District Council