How many no’s are there in a yes?

Festival director Jonathan Holloway gives advice on how to conquer the no, and turn it into a yes when asking for money.
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Detail of Gareth Sansom’s painting in Magic Object: Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art

In the arts we are very familiar with the word no, usually following a funding request. But Jonathan Holloway believes that in those many no’s there lies the golden yes, we just have to listen better.

He says taking that no and working out where the conversation needs to go next is the most important skill to have when fundraising.

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Gina Fairley is ArtsHub's Senior Contributor, after 12 years in the role as National Visual Arts Editor. She has worked for extended periods in America and Southeast Asia, as gallerist, arts administrator and regional contributing editor for a number of magazines, including Hong Kong based Asian Art News and World Sculpture News. She is an Art Tour leader for the AGNSW Members, and lectures regularly on the state of the arts. She is based in Mittagong, regional NSW. Instagram: fairleygina