Other sources of funding
This page lists some of the main sources of funding for the arts in the UK, particularly for those activities that we cannot provide grants for, such as those relating to films. You can also get information on funding opportunities from public libraries. We cannot tell you about the criteria for any of the organisations listed here, or recommend which organisations to approach.
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Other arts councils and National Lottery distributors
Arts Councils
Arts Council Ireland
Phone: +353 01618 0200
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
Phone: 028 9038 5200
info@artscouncil-ni.org
Arts Council of Wales
Phone: 0845 8734 900 | Textphone: 029 2039 0027
Creative Scotland
Phone: 0845 603 6000 | Textphone: 18001 0131 226 6051
enquiries@creativescotland.com
International Federation of Arts Councils and Cultural Agencies (IFACCA)
info@ifacca.org
A network of arts councils and cultural agencies that share knowledge and create understanding to promote the arts and cultural activities.
National Lottery distributors
Awards for All
Phone: 0845 410 2030 | Textphone: 0845 039 0204
general.enquiries@awardsforall.org.uk
Awards for All is a grants scheme for local communities. There are different schemes for each of the four countries of the UK.
The National Lottery Community Fund
Phone: 0845 410 2030 | Textphone: 0845 039 0204
general.enquiries@biglotteryfund.org.uk
Provides funding for charities, voluntary organisations, and projects that improve the health, education and environment of communities.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Phone: 020 7591 6000 | Textphone: 020 7591 6255
enquire@hlf.org.uk
The National Lottery Heritage Fund helps communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our heritage.
Lottery funding
Phone: 0845 275 0000 | Textphone: 0845 275 0022
This is a joint website run by all those who provide funding from the National Lottery. This site allows you to search for information on funding.
National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA)
Phone: 020 7438 2500
Runs various funding schemes to encourage UK talent and innovation in science, technology and art industries.
Sport England
Phone: 03458 508508
info@sportengland.org
Funds opportunities for people to start in, stay in and succeed in sport.
British Film Institute (BFI)
Phone: 020 7255 1444
The lead body for film in the UK. The film fund distributes Lottery funds to support film makers in the UK who are emerging or world class and capable of creating distinctive and entertaining work.
UK Sport
Phone: 020 7211 5100
info@uksport.gov.uk
Works with sports councils and other agencies to support sport in the UK for world-class success.
Youth Music
Phone: 020 7902 1060
info@youthmusic.org.uk
A UK-wide charity that targets young people living in areas of social and economic need. The charity funds music activities run by not-for-profit organisations for people aged up to 18.
Trusts and foundations
Henry Moore Foundation
Phone: 01279843333
grants@henry-moore.org
Website: Grants & fellowships | Henry Moore Foundation (henry-moore.org)
Supporting international public access to sculpture since 1977. Applications from non-profit organisations are invited 4 times per year for grants towards exhibitions, catalogues, commissions, acquisitions, conferences, conservation, research and publication.
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Phone: 020 7812 3700
info@esmeefairbairn.org.uk
The foundation is one of the largest independent foundations that provide grants in the UK. Approximately 75 per cent of its Arts & Heritage grants budget go to the arts and 25 per cent to heritage projects.
The Baring Foundation
Phone: 020 7767 1348
baring.foundation@uk.ing.com
The Baring Foundation was set up in 1969 to give money to charities and voluntary organisations set up for charitable purposes. They have specific grants programmes concerned with strengthening the voluntary sector, the arts and international development.
The Clore Duffield Foundation
Phone: 020 7351 6061
info@cloreduffield.org.uk
The foundation concentrates its support on education, the arts, museum and gallery education, health, social care and disability, placing a particular emphasis on supporting children, young people and more vulnerable people such as people with learning disabilities.
The Foyle Foundation
Phone: 020 7430 9119
info@foylefoundation.org.uk
The foundation is an independent trust that gives grants to UK charities whose main work is in the areas of learning, art and health. Its priorities are to help make the arts more accessible by developing new audiences, supporting tours, festivals and arts education projects, encouraging new work, and supporting young and emerging artists.
The Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Phone: 020 7227 3500
information@phf.org.uk
The arts programme encourages new ways for people in the UK to enjoy, experience and be involved in the arts. Funding benefits organisations and groups through the grants scheme and special projects.
The Belgae Trust
sophie@belgaetrust.org
The Belgae Trust is a small family run charitable trust which was founded in 2016. We support a range of different causes relating to the personal interest of the board members. These areas include: IT, Health, Education, Arts and the Environment or small scale innovative combinations of all these.
Education and training
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
Phone: 020 7215 5555
BIS provides information about student loans, bursaries and other help available. You can apply online at www.direct.gov.uk, which includes full information on repaying student loans.
Directory of Social Change (DSC)
Phone: 0845 077 7707
publications@dsc.org.uk
Includes a link to funding resource websites. The DSC publishes several funding guides and handbooks.
UK Council of International Student Affairs
Phone: 020 7288 4330
UKCISA’s website gives help and advice to prospective students from overseas. The site includes details of charitable trusts which give support to international students, as well as links to other useful sites.
Business funding
The Prince’s Trust
Phone: 0800 842 842 | Textphone: 020 7543 1374
webinfops@princes-trust.org.uk
The trust provides training, financial help, grants and other support for people aged 14 - 30.
Career Development Loans
This service provides help to individuals to fund vocational education or learning, through a loan. It is run by three national banks on behalf of the Government.
Non-UK funding
The following organisations can provide information and advice on funding for activities taking place outside England, or for overseas artists looking to bring their work to the UK. There are also some useful links listed in the final section of this guide.
Creative Europe
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This is the European Union’s programme to support the cultural, creative and audiovisual sectors. From 2014-2020, €1.46 billion is available to support European projects with the potential to travel, reach new audiences and encourage skill sharing and development.
Creative Europe’s Culture programme mainly supports collaborative projects between organisations from the creative, cultural and heritage sectors in different countries. There is also support for publishers to translate European fiction. Creative Europe Desk UK are England’s team of specialists - they organise workshops, seminars and networking events across the country and offer free guidance to prospective applicants.
EUCLID
Phone: 0700 038 2543
info@euclid.info
Provides information, research and consultancy services. It also provides support and help for those applying to the European Union’s funding scheme for art and culture, as well as guidance on other EU funding opportunities. The website contains free, downloadable information on sources of funding from the European Union.
Visiting Arts
Phone: 020 7960 9631
A key information provider for the UK cultural sector. Creates opportunities for artists and cultural professionals to explore new connections and expand their skills and knowledge.
International Intelligence on Culture
Phone: 0780 359 5379
An independent organisation specialising in consultancy, research, project management, training and advisory services relating to international projects.
UK Council for International Student Affairs
Phone: 020 7288 4330
Gives help and advice to prospective students from overseas. Their website includes details of charitable trusts which give support to international students, as well as links to other useful sites.
European Cultural Foundation
eurocult@eurocult.org
Initiates and supports cultural exchange and creative expression across Europe.
Film funding
Britfilms
Phone: 020 7389 3051
arts@britishcouncil.org
Produced by the British Council, the Britfilms website contains information on funding, training, careers and law for film-makers, as well as a wide range of useful links.
British Film Institute (BFI)
Phone: 020 7255 1444
The lead body for film in the UK. The film fund distributes Lottery funds to support film makers in the UK who are emerging or world class and capable of creating distinctive and entertaining work.
The Channel 4 British Documentary Film Foundation
Exists to secure a creatively ambitious and diverse future for British documentary, by looking beyond television to develop, fund and distribute the work of the next generation of UK documentary filmmakers.
Into Film
Phone: 0121 224 7511
info@intofilm.org
Funds and enables young people (aged 5-19) to realise their potential through digital film and media projects.
Skillset
Phone: 020 7713 9800
Supports skills and training for people and businesses to make sure the UK audio visual industries maintain their world-class position. They offer careers advice and guidance.
Fundraising resources
This section includes details of organisations, directories and websites that you may find useful in your search for funding. Some of the organisations listed can provide advice and information on funding opportunities, while others offer support for professional fundraisers.
Organisations
British Council
Phone: 0161 957 7755
general.enquiries@britishcouncil.org
Offers funding for transporting artists’ work to international exhibitions. It also works with organisations to help them manage events and enter into funding agreements for projects that will contribute to developing cultural relations between the UK and the rest of the world.
Crafts Council
Phone: 020 7278 7700
makerdev@craftscouncil.org.uk
The Craft Council’s ‘Maker Development’ scheme can help crafts artists with business start-ups, creative growth or to develop a practice.
ScreenSkills
This online network for creative professionals regularly posts links to funding available for those working in arts and other creative industries.
National Rural Touring Forum (NRTF)
Phone: 0175 930 3624
admin@nrtf.org.uk
An organisation representing a number of touring schemes and rural arts development agencies across England and Wales.
Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF)
Phone: 020 7255 4499
acf@acf.org.uk
The leading membership association for grant-making trusts and foundations. Although ACF does not provide grants themselves, their website offers advice on applying for grants as well as a directory of trusts and foundations.
Institute of Fundraising
Phone: 020 7840 1000
The Institute of Fundraising is the professional body that represents fundraisers in the UK. Their mission is to help fundraisers provide excellent fundraising.
National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA)
Phone: 0114 278 6636 | Textphone: 0114 278 7025
navca@navca.org.uk
NAVCA is the national voice of local voluntary and community groups in England. Its 360 members work with 140,000 local community groups and voluntary organisations which provide services, improve neighbourhoods, increase volunteering and tackle discrimination.
Directories and databases
The Directory of Social Change (DSC)
Phone: 0845 077 7707
enquiries@dsc.org.uk
Provides information and training to voluntary organisations. They publish several funding guides and handbooks, including ‘The Arts Funding Guide’ and ‘The Complete Fundraising Handbook’, as well as regional guides
Useful websites
www.fundersonline.org
An initiative of the European Foundation Centre (EFC), which promotes the work of foundations and those who provide funding for businesses in Europe (corporate funders). The Information and Communications programme of the EFC also provides a public information service on foundations and corporate funders active in Europe.
www.fundraising.co.uk
A website for those who raise funds and don’t work for a profit.