Aims/priorities:
The purpose of this open access programme is to support cultural organisations to adjust buildings and equipment so that they can operate safely post-pandemic and improve access, seize on technological opportunities, and reduce environmental impact.
The longer-term impacts Arts Council England expects to see from this programme are:
- All communities and individuals can actively engage with and enjoy creativity and culture.
- Capital investments are transformational in their impact on the range and reach of collaborations related to creative and cultural activities.
- The business models of cultural organisations can adapt to the changing environment around them and the needs of the communities with whom they work.
- Organisations exhibit dynamic behaviour, developing and increasing the value they create and establishing new business models to enable them to adapt to a challenging environment.
- Organisations demonstrate leadership in environmental responsibility.
- The carbon footprint of the cultural sector is reduced.
- Creative spaces are more inclusive, safe, and accessible for all.
Who can apply?
Applications will be accepted from not-for-profit cultural organisations based in England. Organisations must be able to clearly demonstrate that their primary aims are around culture and that the activities they are applying for fall within the remit of Arts Council England.
Examples of organisations that are eligible to apply include:
- Charities.
- Charitable trusts.
- Charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs) registered with the Charity Commission.
- Charitable companies registered with the Charity Commission.
- Community interest companies (CICs) registered with the CIC regulator.
- Limited companies registered at Companies House who do not distribute profit to their members or shareholders.
- Statutory bodies and other public bodies who run or maintain cultural services.
- Museum applicants, which must be non-national Accredited museums (full and provisional) or museums confirmed by the Arts Council as working towards Accreditation.
The lead organisation (the organisation submitting the application) should be properly constituted with a governing document.
Arts Council England will accept partnership applications between formally constituted cultural organisations. One organisation must act as the lead organisation and submit the application depending on who is most appropriate to meet the programme aims. All partners to the partnership must be not-for-profit organisations.
Grant amount:
Grants are available from £100,000 to a maximum of £750,000.
Funded activity must start by 31 March 2025 and end no later than 31 March 2027.
Applicants are expected to make the most of other sources of income available to them, and to provide match funding as follows:
- For grants from £100,000 to £249,999 - at least 5% must come from other sources.
- For grants from £250,000 to £499,999 - at least 10% must come from other sources.
- For grants from £500,000 to £750,000 - at least 15% must come from other sources.
Application process:
Applications are made using Arts Council England's Grantium grant management system. Applicants must first create a Grantium account to be able to submit an Expression of Interest and then a full application.
Guidance information and further details are available from the Arts Council England website.
Deadline:
The deadline to apply is midday on 3 July 2023.
Contact information:
Email: enquiries@artscouncil.org.uk