Diverse City

Could Diverse City be a fit? Check free — then find open funders like them if not.

Applications: Not accepted

Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.

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diversecity.org.uk

About Diverse City

Diverse City is a UK-registered performing arts charity, established in 2005, that works to advance equality and social justice in culture by amplifying marginalised and underrepresented voices across the arts, from onstage to boardrooms. Its mission is to challenge inequalities in performing arts, with a strong emphasis on disability, intersectionality, and removing barriers for excluded groups. The organisation is rooted in values of social justice, access, inclusivity, collaboration, and shared leadership, and it draws on the transformative power of lived experience. Distinctively, Diverse City embeds inclusion in all its operations rather than treating it as a superficial add-on, blending high-profile productions with sector advocacy as both practitioner and thought leader.

What Diverse City funds

Diverse City prioritises disability arts, representation, community engagement, and poverty relief through commissioning, producing, and touring innovative shows, including circus partnerships and productions such as Human and Delicate. It supports co-created performances, artist training, young disabled leaders' programmes, and accessible festivals with audio description and BSL. The organisation also runs community initiatives like Young People’s and Connecting Communities, benefiting disabled people across ages, genders, and ethnicities, as well as the wider public. Its work has a UK-wide reach with a focus on England, and it supports small to medium-sized UK arts, youth, disability-led, and grassroots groups.

Who can apply

Diverse City works primarily with small to medium-sized UK arts, youth, disability-led, and grassroots groups that are equity-committed. It does not accept unsolicited applications or run open grant programmes, instead pursuing proactive collaborations and co-productions with pre-selected partners. The organisation prioritises disabled people across ages, genders, and ethnicities, as well as the wider public, and prefers partners that share its commitment to inclusion and systemic change.

What Diverse City doesn't fund

Diverse City does not fund core costs, capital, or unrestricted activities. It avoids one-off interventions, focusing on systemic change, and does not accept unsolicited applications or run open grant programmes.

How they like to fund

Diverse City pursues proactive collaborations, co-productions, and commissioned projects with pre-selected partners. It does not accept unsolicited applications or run open grant programmes, instead working by invitation or through advertised creative calls. The organisation focuses on systemic change rather than one-off interventions, and does not fund core costs, capital, or unrestricted activities.

How much does Diverse City give?

Published grant sizes vary. A free fit check matches Diverse City’s current criteria to your charity — so you know if it’s worth applying.

Deadlines & timelines

When to apply, and how long their decisions take.

Your specific fit

Income, location, legal structure and exactly who they fund — matched to your charity.

Good to know

FaithNo restriction

Focus areas

Arts & cultureDisabilityPoverty & hardship

How to apply to Diverse City

Diverse City does not accept unsolicited applications. Funding is by invitation.

A fit check still tells you whether your work aligns with their published remit.
If you cannot apply directly, shortlist open funders with a similar focus instead of writing into a closed door.

What you can do here

1
Check fit. See if your project aligns with Diverse City.
2
Find open funders. Shortlist similar funders you can approach.
3
Save the notes. Keep the fit check if you are later invited to apply.

See if Diverse City could be a fit — then find open funders like them.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Diverse City provide?

Grant amounts vary. Contact Diverse City directly for current funding levels.

Where does Diverse City fund charities?

Diverse City funds charities operating in the UK.

Does Diverse City accept unsolicited applications?

Diverse City does not accept unsolicited applications.

How do I apply for funding from Diverse City?

Diverse City does not accept unsolicited applications. Funding is by invitation. A fit check still tells you whether your work aligns with their published remit.