Arts, Culture & Heritage Grants & Funding
There are 628 UK funders offering grants for arts, culture & heritage charities, with typical awards from £100 to £1,150,000.
The UK has a rich ecosystem of arts, culture, and heritage funding. Arts Council England, Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Wales, and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland provide public funding, while a wide network of trusts and foundations supports independent arts organisations and creative projects. Grants range from core funding for established cultural institutions to small project awards for emerging artists and community arts groups. Heritage funding covers historic buildings, archives, museums, oral history, and intangible cultural heritage. The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, and Garfield Weston Foundation are major arts funders alongside more specialist trusts. Participatory arts — projects where communities actively create rather than just consume culture — have seen strong funder interest. Many grant-makers value arts projects that deliver social outcomes alongside cultural ones: improving mental health, building community cohesion, or engaging marginalised groups. Rural touring, digital arts, and diversity in cultural leadership are current funding priorities.
Quick Stats
- Total Funders
- 628
- Grant Range
- £100 - £1,150,000
- Open to Applications
- 54%
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Clear filtersFilters use programme details verified from each funder's own published guidance. Funders we haven't verified yet are listed separately below, never hidden.
Arts, Culture & Heritage Funders
33 of 628 match your filtersChecked against verified programme data for 104 of 628 funders. 524 not yet verified are listed below; 71 that don't fit were excluded.
29th May 1961 Charity
Verified openMatching programme: General Grant Programme
The 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust, founded on 29 May 1961 by Miss Helen M. Martin from Kenilworth, Warwickshire, is an independent generalist grantma...
Anchor Foundation
Verified openMatching programme: Grant Programme
The Anchor Foundation is a UK-based grantmaker dedicated to supporting Christian charities that address social exclusion through ministries of healing...
Arts Council England
Verified openMatching programme: National Lottery Project Grants
Arts Council England is the national development agency championing arts, museums, and libraries, rooted in a post-war vision to advance creativity fo...
British Film Institute
Verified openMatching programme: BFI National Lottery Creative Challenge Fund
The British Film Institute, established by Royal Charter in 1933, leads UK efforts to advance film, television, and moving image culture through prese...
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, UK Branch
Verified openMatching programme: Project Grants (Armenian Communities Department)
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation UK Branch, established in 1956 from the bequest of Armenian oil magnate Calouste Gulbenkian, is a London-based arm ...
Colwinston Charitable Trust
Verified openMatching programme: Main Grant Programme
The Colwinston Charitable Trust, established in 1995 by Mathew Prichard CBE, sustains and supports high-quality artistic activities that enrich UK cul...
D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust
Verified openMatching programme: Small Charity Grants
The D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, established in 1972 by Dame Bridget D'Oyly Carte—granddaughter of theatrical impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte—honour...
Didymus
Verified openMatching programme: Didymus
Didymus is a small grant-making charity founded in 2013 to widen access to and participation in the arts, supporting UK-registered charities that deli...
Elmgrant Trust
Verified openMatching programme: Organisation Grants
The Elmgrant Trust, family-founded in 1936 by Leonard and Dorothy Elmhirst and Beatrice, carries forward the Dartington Hall ethos of rural regenerati...
Elmley Foundation
Verified openMatching programme: Main Programme
The Elmley Foundation is an independent grantmaking charity rooted in perpetuating the historic tradition of arts, crafts, and design from Madresfield...
Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust
Verified openMatching programme: Medium Grant
The Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust (EKCT), established in 1963 by Ernest and Joan Kleinwort, is a family-led grant-making foundation dedicated to m...
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Verified openMatching programme: Grants
The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, established in 1961 by Ian Fairbairn in memory of his wife, is one of the UK's largest independent funders, dedicated ...
Essex Heritage Trust
Verified openMatching programme: Essex Heritage Trust Grants
Essex Heritage Trust is an independent grant-making charity established in 1990 following Essex Heritage Year 1989, dedicated to preserving and making...
Francis C Scott Charitable Trust
Verified openMatching programme: Main Grants
The Francis C Scott Charitable Trust, established in 1963 by Peter Scott CBE and Dr Joan Trevelyan in honour of their father—a local philanthropist pa...
Freelands Foundation Limited
Verified openMatching programme: Learning Through Making Fund
Freelands Foundation is a UK charity dedicated to ensuring universal access to visual arts education and participation, empowering individuals regardl...
HDH Wills 1965 Charitable Trust
Verified openMatching programme: General Fund
The HDH Wills 1965 Charitable Trust is an independent grant-making charity founded in 1965 with a mission to advance charitable purposes worldwide, pl...
Historic Houses Foundation
Verified openMatching programme: Country Houses Foundation Grants (Buildings)
The Historic Houses Foundation is an independent UK charity with a foundational mission to preserve historic buildings—primarily country houses, garde...
Idlewild Trust
Verified openMatching programme: Arts - Nurturing Early-Stage Professionals
Idlewild Trust is an independent grant-making charity with a foundational mission to advance education and learning by nurturing creative talent throu...
J G Graves Charitable Trust
Verified openMatching programme: General Grant Programme
The J G Graves Charitable Trust, founded in 1930 by Sheffield businessman and philanthropist John George Graves, is a legacy-driven funder dedicated t...
Keith Howard Foundation
Verified openMatching programme: Emergency Fund
The Keith Howard Foundation is an independent charitable trust founded in 2008 with a mission to create lasting societal change and positive impact in...
Mayfield Valley Arts Trust
Verified openMatching programme: AHT Enterprise Fund
The Mayfield Valley Arts Trust (MVAT), founded over 30 years ago by Tony and Scilla Thornton, began supporting music-making in Yorkshire—most notably ...
Mayor of London's Fund for Young Musicians
Verified openMatching programme: Partnership Projects
The Mayor of London's Fund for Young Musicians, trading as the London Music Fund, is an independent charity established in 2011 with the Mayor as Patr...
Mercers Charitable Foundation
Verified openMatching programme: Older People & Housing
The Mercers’ Charitable Foundation, established in 1983 as the principal grant-making trust of The Mercers’ Company—London’s premier livery company fo...
Mohn Westlake Foundation
Verified openMatching programme: The Mohn Westlake Foundation
The Mohn Westlake Foundation is a family charitable trust driven by dual missions: enhancing lives of children and young people through expanded acces...
National Funding Scheme
Verified openMatching programme: DONATE™ Digital Fundraising Platform
The National Funding Scheme is a pioneering UK charity founded to revolutionize charitable fundraising through cutting-edge digital technology, democr...
National Lottery Heritage Fund
Verified openMatching programme: National Lottery Grants for Heritage £10,000–£250,000
The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the UK's largest dedicated heritage funder established in 1994 (with roots in the 1980 National Heritage Memorial ...
National Manuscripts Conservation Trust
Verified openMatching programme: NMCT Conservation Grants
The National Manuscripts Conservation Trust is dedicated to safeguarding the UK's written heritage through preservation of at-risk manuscripts and arc...
P H Holt Foundation
Verified openMatching programme: Action on Abuse Fund
The P H Holt Foundation is a legacy-driven grantmaker rooted in over a century of philanthropy aimed at improving everyday life for Merseyside residen...
Roger & Douglas Turner Charitable Trust
Verified openMatching programme: Core funding
The Roger & Douglas Turner Charitable Trust embodies a family-founded vision of community wellbeing, prioritizing quality of life enhancements, opport...
Sackler Trust
Verified openMatching programme: The Sackler Trust
The Sackler Trust is a UK-based grant-making foundation established in 2010 with a mission to advance medical science, healthcare innovation, educatio...
Sheffield Grammar School Exhibition Foundation
Verified openMatching programme: Sheffield Grammar School Exhibition Foundation Grants
Sheffield Grammar School Exhibition Foundation advances educational opportunity for financially needy local city residents through scholarships, bursa...
Swire Charitable Trust
Verified openMatching programme: Swire Charitable Trust
The Swire Charitable Trust, established in 1975 by Sir John Swire CBE and Sir Adrian Swire and funded primarily by John Swire & Sons Limited, is an in...
Veronica Awdry Charitable Trust
Verified openMatching programme: Veronica Awdry Charitable Trust Grants
The Veronica Awdry Charitable Trust, established in 2005 by Devon resident and former teacher Mrs Veronica Chambers (née Awdry)—daughter of Reverend W...
524 funders not yet verified against these filters
We haven't confirmed these funders' programme details yet, so they may or may not fit. Showing the first 10.
Tips for Applying to Arts, Culture & Heritage Funders
Arts and culture funders look for applications that articulate both artistic quality and social impact. Describe the creative excellence of your work — the artistic vision, calibre of practitioners, and cultural significance — alongside the social outcomes it delivers. Avoid reducing arts to a mere tool for social change; instead show how high-quality cultural experiences create transformative engagement. Detail your participatory methods, explaining how communities actively shape creative processes rather than simply attending performances or exhibitions. Demonstrate diversity and inclusion in your programming, governance, and workforce, showing concrete steps you are taking rather than aspirational statements. Present your audience development strategy, particularly how you reach people who do not currently engage with arts and culture, including evidence of barriers and how you address them. If your project involves cultural heritage, articulate its significance using frameworks such as heritage values or cultural asset mapping. Include evidence from previous work — audience feedback, participant testimonials, evaluation reports, or critical reviews — that demonstrates both artistic merit and meaningful engagement. Strong applications show a clear connection between creative ambition and community benefit, with realistic budgets that fairly compensate artists and creative practitioners.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Arts, Culture & Heritage Grants
What grants are available for arts, culture & heritage charities in the UK?
There are 628+ UK funders offering grants for arts, culture & heritage charities. These range from small community grants under £5,000 to large multi-year funding programmes exceeding £100,000. Use Fundermatcher to find the best match for your organisation.
How much funding can arts, culture & heritage organisations get?
Grant amounts for arts, culture & heritage charities vary widely depending on the funder and project. Typical grants range from £1,000 to over £100,000. Many funders offer multi-year funding for established organisations with a strong track record.
How do I apply for arts, culture & heritage grants?
Start by identifying funders whose priorities align with your arts, culture & heritage work. Fundermatcher matches your charity's profile against 628+ funders to find the best fit. Our AI assistant can then help you draft compelling grant applications.
How to Find the Right Arts, Culture & Heritage Funders
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Which of These 628 Funders Are Right for You?
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