From left to right: Raj Khatri, Iain Drayton, Sir Vernon Eliis, Anna Rowe and Cyrille Camilleri

We held our launch event at the Menier Lounge near Borough Market in London on Wednesday 9 November, the result of nearly a year of preparation to get RIAC off the ground and ready for action.

We would like to thank our guests, trustees and mentors for attending and for showing such tremendous enthusiasm for our project and manifesting so much positive spirit at the event.

RIAC founding partner and Chair, Anna Rowe, gave a passionate and fiery introductory speech.  She recalled RIAC’s genesis, why there is a need for RIAC today, how RIAC provides a unique offering to address the need for and of NextGen Trustees, our goals and purpose as well as revealing the secret alternative meaning of the name RIAC!

Guest speaker Sir Vernon Ellis, one of our Brain Trust Mentors whose support and advice has been invaluable in setting up RIAC, shared with characteristic good humour his life path to Arts philanthropy and the importance to widen one’s interests outside work so as to “avoid it becoming boring”.

Guests then split into working groups tasked with reflecting on further initiatives and thoughts on how to enhance RIAC.  We are very grateful for their insight and advice to ensure that we remain sharply focused on the needs of our three groups of partners – potential trustees, arts and culture organisations and mentors.

The group discussions were also the first opportunity to start matching trusteeships within arts and culture organisations with potential trustee candidates.  We were struck by the desire of our guests who have had the opportunity to act as Trustees to help, nurture and support a new generation to take over.

The evening ended with a rousing speech by our founding partner Iain Drayton.  He thanked the attendees, enjoining all to help RIAC prosper and expressing hope that the launch event will be the first of many more successful reunions and events in 2023 and beyond.

We were struck by the huge goodwill shown by all attendees and the overwhelming feeling of positivity and encouragement throughout the evening from all.  We truly appreciate the willingness of all attendees to be involved going forwards.

Many thanks to the RIAC team; and in particular to Cathy, Hannah, Laura and Michael, for helping organise the event and, most importantly, over the last 12 months, for getting RIAC off the ground.

Many thanks too to the team at the Menier Lounge for their highly professional service.

Here are some more photographs courtesy of Sisi Burn.