Arts & Business Cymru

The funder supports arts and culture through capacity-building programmes that foster partnerships between arts organisations, heritage bodies, creative graduates, and businesses. Key themes include match-funded business sponsorships, heritage resilience mentoring, and creative internships that place graduates as trainee fundraisers. All projects deliver direct public benefit to Welsh communities across Mid, North, South, and West Wales. The focus is on strengthening the cultural sector’s fundraising, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills, rather than funding individual artistic projects or events.

Eligible applicants include UK-registered charities, charitable incorporated organisations, community interest companies, and community groups based in Wales. Arts and heritage organisations of all sizes, as well as creative graduates and businesses, may apply. Individuals can apply through professional associations. Applicants are expected to be members of Arts & Business Cymru. Commercial entities are considered on a case-by-case basis. The funder prioritises projects that benefit residents of Wales, including those run by arts partners outside Wales if they serve Welsh communities.

The funder does not support capital or building costs, nor does it fund generic operational expenses. Projects that are not focused on arts and culture or that do not involve partnership between arts and business are unlikely to be considered.

Arts & Business Cymru operates through a match-funding model, leveraging business sponsorship to support arts organisations. It works on a partnership-brokering basis rather than offering traditional grants. Funding is provided via capacity-building programmes such as CultureStep, Heritage Forward, and Creative Internships, which focus on skills development and long-term resilience. The funder welcomes unsolicited approaches from eligible organisations.