Arts and culture funding

Information about arts and culture funding and how to apply.

Types of funding

There are three different types of arts and culture funding:

• Openness
• Imagination
• Originators

Openness

This is core funding for up to four years, 2018 to 2022, for established arts and cultural organisations with a year round programme.

Who can apply

Organisations with at least 12 months of accounts and proven track record.

Criteria and guidelines

You’ll need the following documents when you apply for the Openness fun:

• Openness fund guidance notes (pdf, 462k) (opens new window)

• prospectus for all three funds (pdf, 369k) (opens new window)

How to apply

Apply online via the ProContract system

The fund opens for applications on 12 July 2017.

The fund closes for applications at 5pm 12 September 2017. 

The maximum grant is no more than 5% of annual turnover and tapering over the duration of funding.

Imagination

Funding for up to two years, runs 2018 -20 and 2020-22, for imaginative projects and programmes, development of organisations and work with communities that increases access to arts and culture.

Projects commence from 1 April 2018.

The amount you can apply for per year is £5,000 to £40,000. 

Match funding is required, a minimum of 25% match funding of total budget requested.

Who can apply

Organisations with at least 6 months of accounts and proven track record.

Criteria and guidelines

You’ll need the following documents when you apply for Imagination:

• Imagination fund guidance notes (pdf, 441k) (opens new window)
• prospectus for all three funds (pdf, 369k) (opens new window)

How to apply

Apply online via the ProContract system

The fund opens for applications on 12 July 2017.

The fund closes for applications at 5pm 12 September 2017. 

Originators

Funding from 1 day to 12 months (annual fund) for projects completed in a year, such as:

• community festivals with arts and culture focus
• an arts project offering quality experiences that people in Bristol take part in
• small-scale activities for testing new ideas 
• partnerships working with local communities
• professional development

Projects commence from 1 April 2018.

The amount you can apply for per year is £500 to £5,000.

No match funding required. 

Who can apply

Individuals, community groups and organisations, including unincorporated organisations.

Criteria and guidelines

You’ll need the following documents when you apply for Originators:

Guidance notes for Originators will be available in August 2017.
Prospectus for all three funds

How to apply

The application form for Originatorswill be available in August 2017.

The fund opens for applications on 15 September 2017.

The fund closes for applications at 5pm on 15 November 2017.

Supported projects and organisations 2017-18

The details of projects and organisations that have recieved funding are available here:

• key arts providers 2015-2018 (pdf, 18k) (opens new window)
• community festival and event fund supported projects 2017-2018 (pdf, 47k) (opens new window)
• creative seed fund supported projects 2017-2018 (pdf, 45k) (opens new window)

Contact us

Our contact details are below and you can also follow us on Twitter: @BristolArtsDev