Introduction to creative grant funding

Grant advice

Applying for funding

Applying for a cultural grant involves showcasing how your project will preserve, promote, or explore culture, cultural heritage, practices, or expressions.

A strong application will clearly articulate the cultural significance of your project and demonstrate its impact on the community. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you craft a compelling cultural grant application.

Understand the funder’s priorities

• Research the grant provider
  • Start by understanding the goals and priorities of the organisation. What cultural themes, traditions, or areas do they focus on? Review past successful projects to get a sense of what the funder values.
• Align with the mission
  • Make sure your project aligns with the funder’s mission. If they emphasise cultural preservation, education, or innovation - your proposal should resonate with these themes.

Define the cultural scope of your project

• Clarify your objectives
  • Clearly define what your project aims to achieve in terms of cultural impact. Are you preserving a traditional practice, creating a new cultural expression, or educating the public about a particular culture?
• Identify cultural significance
  • Explain the cultural importance of your project. Why is this cultural aspect significant? How does it contribute to the broader understanding or appreciation of culture?

Develop a detailed project plan

• Project description
  • Provide a comprehensive description of your project, including its goals, activities, and expected outcomes. Outline the cultural elements involved, such as traditions, art forms, or historical contexts.
• Cultural relevance
  • Explain how your project connects with the community or cultural group it represents. Highlight the relevance of your project to the people involved and the broader audience.
• Timeline
  • Create a clear and realistic timeline for your project. Include key phases such as planning, implementation, and evaluation.

Create a budget

• Detailed budget breakdown
  • Provide a detailed budget outlining all costs associated with your project. Include items such as materials, labour, venue rental, and marketing. Be transparent and realistic in your financial planning.
• Justify expenses
  • Explain how each budget item contributes to the cultural impact of your project. Funders need to see their money being used effectively and efficiently.

Craft a strong narrative

Your narrative should convey the cultural story you want to share. Explain the background of the culture, tradition, or practice your project focuses on, and why it’s important to preserve or promote it.

• Highlight community engagement
  • Demonstrate how your project will engage with the community. If through workshops, performances, or exhibitions, show how your project will involve and benefit the community.
• Show cultural impact
  • Clearly articulate the potential cultural impact of your project. How will it enrich the cultural landscape? How will it influence or educate the broader public?

Prepare supporting materials

• Cultural documentation
  • Include relevant materials that support your application, such as photos, videos, or recordings. These can help funders visualise the cultural significance of your project.
• Letters of support
  • Obtain letters of support from cultural leaders, community members, or organizations that endorse your project. These can add credibility and demonstrate community backing.
• Artist/project statement
  • Provide a statement outlining your connection to the culture. Explain your background, expertise, and passion for the cultural subject matter.

Review and finalise your application

• Follow submission guidelines
  • Keep to the grant provider’s submission guidelines. Make sure you’ve included all required documents and your application meets all formatting and content requirements.
• Proofread
  • Carefully proofread your application and look for clarity, coherence, and accuracy. Consider having someone with experience in grant writing review your application for feedback.
• Revise as necessary
  • Make revisions based on feedback and make sure your application is as strong as possible before submitting.

Submit your application

• Timely submission
  • Submit your application well before the deadline. This allows time for any unforeseen issues and demonstrates your professionalism.
• Confirmation
  • After submission, confirm that your application was received. Keep records of all correspondence.

Follow up

• Wait for feedback
  • After submitting your application, be patient during the review process. If the funder provides feedback, use it to improve future applications.
• Respond promptly
  • If the grant provider contacts you with questions or requests for additional information, get back to them quickly and professionally.

Plan for project execution

• Prepare for success
  • If awarded the grant, be ready to start your project as outlined in your application. Make sure you have the resources and team in place to execute your plan.
• Monitor and report
  • Keep track of your project’s progress and be prepared to provide updates or reports to the funder as required. Documenting your project can also help in future grant applications.

By following this guide, you can create a cultural grant application that effectively communicates the significance and impact of your project, increasing your chances of securing funding to bring your cultural vision to life.

List of funders

There is a wide span of grant funding available to individuals, community groups, charities and organisations to support and enable cultural and creative projects.

• Grantfinder helps you discover the latest funding grant opportunities for arts, culture and heritage, which includes everything from creative arts to cultural heritage projects
• The Alec Dickson Trust have awards of up to £500 for people under 30 towards local community projects
• The Arts Council (0845 300 6200), provides grants from £1,000 to £30,000 (average £5,000), for individuals or arts organisations involved in arts-related activities that benefit people in England (or that help artists and arts organisations in England), to carry out their work
• Contact Austin and Hope Pilkington for funding for projects relating to children, youth, the elderly and medical grants. Grants are usually for 1 year, from £1,000 to £10,000 - the majority being £5,000 or less.
• BBC Children in Need (0345 609 0015), awards grants for projects working with disadvantaged children and young people, aged 18 and under. The small grants are under £10,000 for 1 to 3 years and the main grants are over £10,000 for 1 to 3 years.
• Biffa awards grants (01636 670000), to projects near Biffa sites that provide or improve community spaces, cultural facilities and places for outdoor recreation
• The Clothworkers' Foundation (020 7623 7041), awards capital grants to UK charities with an annual income of less than £15 million
• Comic Relief provide grants for UK or international projects
• Community groups and co-operatives can apply for support from The Co-operative
• Ford Britain Trust have small grants of up to £250 for work supporting activities with clear benefit to the community, work with young people/children, schools, special educational needs, and those with disabilities. Applications are invited from registered charities, schools/PTAs, not for profit organisations (including small clubs and societies).
• The Greater London Authority distributes grants to support communities and civil society organisations

Below you will find grants that are both currently open and grants that will be available soon.

This page is updated regularly.

• The Community Spaces programme will help groups in England to create or improve green and open spaces to improve the quality of life in their neighbourhood. Grants between £10,000 and £50,000 are available.
• The Community Fund awards funding for great ideas that help communities to thrive
• The National Lottery Heritage Fund's vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. They can fund heritage projects from £10,000 up to £10 million.
• The Rank Foundation provides support for young people to encourage leadership amongst them. Grants are available for local community initiatives
• The Savoy Educational Trust (020 7849 3001), gives grants to people entering or working in the hospitality industry, or charities offering hospitality related education projects. There are scholarships of £5,500 to young people to help with their training or grants up to £500 to purchase items such as books, uniform and kitchen equipment, for example, knives. Initial contact and a request for funding should be made in writing.
• The Tudor Trust (020 7727 8522), is an independent grant-making trust which supports voluntary and community groups working in any part of the UK. They particularly want to help smaller, community-led organisations which work directly with people who are at the margins of society, and organisations which support positive changes in people’s lives and in their communities.
• Unlimited’s mission is to commission extraordinary work from disabled artists until the whole of the cultural sector does. By showcasing and supporting the amazing breadth and quality of work by disabled artists, they want to open doors for their artists to work with other organisations too.
• The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers (020 7256 5558), runs many charitable activities involving support and careers in the British furniture making industry. Contact them for more information.
• The Yapp Charitable Trust (0191 389 3300), make grants for running costs and salaries to small registered charities in England and Wales to help sustain their existing work
• Enfield Voluntary Action supports local community and voluntary groups to help them make life better for people in Enfield. Their development and funding advice helps local voluntary and community groups make sure they are on a sound, well run and sustainable footing. It includes:
  • helping groups decide on their aims and objectives
  • supporting groups to draw up the key governance documents and put in place the legal structures they need
  • making sure a board of trustees is in place to run the organisation
  • providing model policies and procedures
  • providing advice and guidance on fundraising