Information about our Culture Strategy, arts and culture funding, and how to apply.
Culture Strategy 2027 to 2037 engagement commissions
We're developing a new Culture Strategy for Bristol.
To reflect the voices, ideas and experiences of Bristol's cultural sector and communities, we launched 3 engagement funds, which closed in January 2026.
We received 155 applications and awarded funding to 19 projects across the 3 funding strands.
These projects will run from April to June 2026 and include creative workshops, conversations, storytelling, research and artist led activity across Bristol's neighbourhoods.
See the pdf full list of successful recipients(87 KB) .
How the insights will be used
The learning from these 19 projects will directly inform the Culture Strategy by helping us:
- understand what matters most to Bristol's cultural and creative communities
- identify opportunities and challenges within our communities and within the sector
- shape priorities that reflect experiences across the city
- ensure underrepresented voices and heard and help shape decisions
Culture Strategy 2027 to 2037 surveys
We're also running city-wide Culture Strategy surveys to gather views from residents and cultural professionals.
This is a once in a decade opportunity to shape cultural planning for our city. The surveys close Friday 10 July 2026.
Cultural Investment Programme
The Cultural Investment Programme is the way we provide grants for Bristol-based organisations and individuals to deliver arts and culture activities, events or festivals. We offer both project specific grants and unrestricted funding.
Our vision is to make arts and culture accessible for all citizens.
Cultural Investment Programme safeguarded until March 2029
In February 2026, Full Council agreed to adjusting initial spending plans in 6 areas identified as having a direct, positive impact on the city. We'll:
- protect the Bristol Impact Fund, so we can continue investment to support local community organisations
- preserve the Cultural Investment Programme for the next 3 years and remove proposals to reduce this fund, meaning we can protect funding for our cultural organisations
You can read a full overview of the 2026/27 budget approach from Councillor Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council.
Alongside honouring existing grant agreements for currently funded organisations, we are now working on plans for delivering new grants for 2026 onwards. We will update this page with details about future grant opportunities over the summer.
If you aren't already, sign up for updates through our mailing list at the end of this page.
Grant opportunity update
Culture Fund 2026/27 now open for grant applications
Our Culture Fund offers grants to Bristol-based artists, creative freelancers or organisations, of between £500 and £5,000 to support activities and core costs over 6 months that help make arts and culture accessible to everyone.
The fund will prioritise projects, activities and organisations that address inequality, meaningfully engage communities and promote health and wellbeing.
The Fund is the first step in a shift towards a more dynamic, collaborative and transparent approach to investment which will be at the heart of the new Cultural Strategy for Bristol which will launch in 2027.
The Fund will be delivered in partnership with Quartet Community Foundation. This a leading independent grant-maker in the West of England. Quartet has a permanent endowment of around £67 million, and is one of the largest community foundations in the UK.
It'll also begin the process of responding to calls for greater transparency on how funding decisions are made put forward in the Citizens for Culture Regional Cultural Plan.
Members of the Citizen's Assembly will observe stages of the Fund's delivery to inform recommendations for future investment through the council’s Cultural Investment Programme.
To find out more and apply, visit: Quartet Community Foundation: Bristol City Council Culture Fund.
Deadline for applications is: 11am, 6 August 2026
Funding period will run from October 2026 to 31 May 2027.
Cultural Investment Programme: Originators Fund
Find out about the pdf 40 projects being supported with Originators funding, 2024 to 2025(138 KB) .
Cultural Investment Programme: Imagination Fund
Find out about the pdf 11 funded organisations being supported with Imagination funding, 2024 to 2026(239 KB) .
Cultural Investment Programme: Openness
Find out about the pdf 15 organisations being supported with Openness funding, 2024 to 2027(143 KB) .
City Centre and High Streets Economic Recovery Culture and Events Programme
Through the City Centre and High Streets Economic Recovery Culture and Events Programme, we're investing in the culture and events sector to:
- support Bristol's city centre and high streets
- help the recovery of the culture and events sector
- re-establish the city's reputation for creativity and imagination following the impacts of COVID-19
Find out more on the City Centre and High Streets Economic Recovery Culture and Events Programme Go to index.php?Itemid=2182 (opens new window) webpage.
Event planning support
For information on how to apply for Site Permissions to hold an event in Bristol, visit our Hold an event in a park, open space or street.
Contact us
Email: cityartsfunds@bristol.gov.uk
Join our mailing list
Sign up to our Culture and Creative Industries mailing list.
This way we can send you monthly updates about:
- arts and events
- opportunities
- funding