Creative People and Places National Portfolio Programme 2025-28
This programme funds consortium partners in eligible local authority areas to empower local people to decide what kind of creativity and culture activity they want to experience in their place.
How can I be part of the Creative People and Places programme?
Creative People and Places National Portfolio 2025-28 postponed until 2026
To provide security and stability for current projects, we’re extending the 2022-25 Creative People and Places National Portfolio for one year, to 31 March 2026.
The 2025-28 Creative People and Places National Portfolio process will therefore also be postponed for one year, giving you more time to develop your plans and partnerships so that you can apply for funding for 2026-29.
There’s still some steps you can take now, read on for more information. We’ll update this webpage with more details about the application process for the 2026-29 Creative People and Places National Portfolio soon.
Find out more
We’ve published a set of Frequently Asked Questions. One set of FAQs is for everyone, the second is for current CPPs, and the third is for organisations who had already expressed interest in applying to the 2025-28 round (now to be 2026-29).
Please take a look at this information in your own time. We will provide updates on revised timelines in the coming weeks and months.
About
Why are we extending the current Creative People and Places National Portfolio?
We’ve considered the current challenges facing organisations in the legacy of the pandemic, and the rising cost of living. The extension is part of our measures to make sure we are being flexible and responsive to the needs of the sector in the delivery of our funding programmes.
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What happens next?
All current CPPs are eligible for the extension year and will need to complete a simple application process. We will confirm these details soon.
The 142 places announced for the 2025-28 Creative People and Places National Portfolio will remain eligible for the 2026-29 programme. Our register of interest will remain open so that you can use this additional time to continue building partnerships.
We’ve also published The principles of Creative People and Places, a resource to support applicants planning to apply to the 2026-29 programme during this additional development time.
What can you do now?
What can you do now?
Step 1: Check whether your area is eligible to apply
To apply, your programme must cover one or more of our eligible places.
There are now 142 eligible places in England.
Step 2: Register your interest
If you’re eligible and interested in either leading an application or becoming a partner on a consortium, we recommend you sign up to our Register of Interest to start forming your connections.
By registering, you’ll receive notifications about the programme guidance, briefing events, and application portal opening. We’ll also use it to share your details with other partners in your eligible place, so you can start to have conversations with each other.
Download the list below of submissions to start to build your connections. (This list will be regularly updated)
Need some help?
Need some help?
Can’t find the answer to your question in our FAQs? Our Customer Service team are here to help.
Our Frequently Asked Questions are regularly updated with the latest information on the programme.
