For several years Mosedale Gillatt Architecture firm have participated in the Arts Council Graduate Placement scheme. It was this that led photographer Jill Smith to spend 40 days sharing a space, skills and ideas with architects at the firm. The placement proved beneficial for both parties and was due to end just as creative partnerships were really beginning to flourish. Mosedale Gillatt wanted to provide Jill with her first commission and benefit from her prolonged presence at the firm so they decided to commission Jill to produce a body of work, focussing on their last ten years of projects, with a view to a public exhibition and publication.

The benefits of this to the artist were clear, she would be able to exhibit her first professional commission and develop her professional portfolio. Mosedale Gillatt felt that they had a great deal to gain as well; in addition to the positive impact that Jill’s presence had on staff in the office, they wanted to celebrate 10 years in business, highlight  recent built projects, attract past and current clients to attend their event, attract press and PR outcomes and raise the company’s profile.

Mosedale Gillatt had not taken part in arts sponsorship before and they were eligible for match funding from the Sponsors Club for Arts and Business. This additional funding enabled Jill to spend more time on her project, hire specialist equipment and produce and present her work for the final exhibition. The role of the Sponsors Club was also to support the business in their first time sponsorship venture, ensuring benefits for the artists but importantly for the business as well.