Arts, Culture & Heritage628+ Funders

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%

Arts, Culture & Heritage Funders

43 of 628 match your filters

Checked against verified programme data for 110 of 628 funders. 518 not yet verified are listed below; 67 that don't fit were excluded.

29th May 1961 Charity

Verified open

Matching 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...

Grant Range
£3,000 - £15,000

Anchor Foundation

Verified open

Matching programme: Grant Programme

The Anchor Foundation is a UK-based grantmaker dedicated to supporting Christian charities that address social exclusion through ministries of healing...

Grant Range
£500 - £12,000

Anthony and Elizabeth Mellows Charitable Settlement

Verified open

Matching programme: Anthony and Elizabeth Mellows Charitable Settlement

The Anthony and Elizabeth Mellows Charitable Settlement is a London-based grant-making trust established on 7 November 1980, founded by philanthropist...

Grant Range
£1,000 - £5,000

Architectural Heritage Fund

Verified open

Matching programme: Project Development Grants (PDG) - Scotland

The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF), a UK-registered charity founded in 1976, champions the conservation and sustainable reuse of historic buildings...

Grant Range
£10,000 - £100,000

Art Fund

Verified open

Matching programme: Acquisitions Programme – Main grants

Art Fund, established in 1903 by Christiana Herringham and visionary artists and patrons, champions the acquisition and preservation of outstanding ar...

Grant Range
£2,000 - £100,000

Ashla Charitable Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: Ashla Charitable Trust (via Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway – general or specific application)

The Ashla Charitable Trust is a family-based grant-making charity dedicated to advancing arts, humanitarian aid, education, and women's rights through...

Grant Range
£2,000 - £20,000

Book Trade Charity

Verified open

Matching programme: Career guidance grants

The Book Trade Charity (BTBS), founded in 1837 by and for the UK publishing, bookselling, and book distribution sectors, serves as an essential safety...

Grant Range
£250 - £2,000

Britford Bridge Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: General Grant Programme

The Britford Bridge Trust is an endowed family foundation established to perpetuate intergenerational philanthropy through structured, enduring giving...

Grant Range
£10,000 - £50,000

British Film Institute

Verified open

Matching 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...

Grant Range
Contact funder

Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, UK Branch

Verified open

Matching 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 ...

Grant Range
£10,000 - £600,000

Clive Richards Foundation

Verified open

Matching programme: Research

The Clive Richards Foundation, established in 1986 by entrepreneur Clive Richards and his wife Sylvia (renamed in Clive's honour after his 2021 passin...

Grant Range
Contact funder

Clore Duffield Foundation

Verified open

Matching programme: Clore Learning Spaces (Capital Projects)

The Clore Duffield Foundation, born from the merger of visionary philanthropic legacies, drives transformative opportunities through excellence, innov...

Grant Range
Contact funder

Colwinston Charitable Trust

Verified open

Matching 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...

Grant Range
£5,000 - £50,000

Cruden Foundation Ltd

Verified open

Matching programme: Main Grant Programme

Cruden Foundation Ltd, established in Edinburgh from a building business legacy, embodies a mission of community regeneration and enduring public bene...

Grant Range
£2,500 - £5,000

D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust

Verified open

Matching 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...

Grant Range
£500 - £6,000

Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust

Verified open

Matching 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...

Grant Range
£2,000 - £25,000

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

Verified open

Matching 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 ...

Grant Range
From £30,000

Feisean Nan Gaidheal

Verified open

Matching programme: Fèis Development Fund (Stòras Leasachaidh nam Fèisean)

Feisean Nan Gaidheal, an independent Scottish charity established in 1991, serves as the umbrella body for the Fèis movement, which originated over 40...

Grant Range
£250 - £20,000

Freelands Foundation Limited

Verified open

Matching 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...

Grant Range
£500 - £300,000

Friends of the Nations' Libraries

Verified open

Matching programme: Acquisition Grants

Friends of the Nations' Libraries (FNL), established in 1931 as the UK's only charity dedicated exclusively to safeguarding written and printed herita...

Grant Range
£200 - £20,000

Glasgow City Heritage Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: Historic Environment Grants

Glasgow City Heritage Trust is an independent charity with a foundational mission to safeguard, repair, and promote Glasgow’s historic built environme...

Grant Range
£5,000 - £50,000

Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation

Verified open

Matching programme: Grants to Registered Charities

The Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation advances Jewish life, learning, and broader charitable purposes through grant-making that fosters cultural enrichme...

Grant Range
£1,000 - £10,000

HDH Wills 1965 Charitable Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: Martin Wills Wildlife Maintenance Trust

The HDH Wills 1965 Charitable Trust is an independent grant-making charity founded in 1965 with a mission to advance charitable purposes worldwide, pl...

Grant Range
£500 - £2,000

Historic Houses Foundation

Verified open

Matching 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...

Grant Range
£10,000 - £50,000

Idlewild Trust

Verified open

Matching 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...

Grant Range
£4,500 - £7,000

J P Marland Charitable Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: The J P Marland Charitable Trust

The J P Marland Charitable Trust is a family-founded discretionary grantmaker with a mission to support worthy charitable causes delivering public ben...

Grant Range
£1,000 - £15,000

James Pantyfedwen Foundation (Ymddiriedolaeth James Pantyfedwen)

Verified open

Matching programme: Postgraduate Student Grants

The James Pantyfedwen Foundation (Ymddiriedolaeth James Pantyfedwen), established in 1998 as the successor to trusts founded by Sir D J James, is a Wa...

Grant Range
£2,000 - £15,000

John Ellerman Foundation

Verified open

Matching programme: Main Grants programme (2025-2030 strategy)

The John Ellerman Foundation, established in 1971 by John Reeves Ellerman with wealth from shipping, brewing, and other industries—acknowledging its h...

Grant Range
Up to £180,000

Marsh Christian Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: Grants Programme

The Marsh Charitable Trust (formerly Marsh Christian Trust), established in 1981 by Brian Marsh OBE, is a UK-based funder dedicated to sustaining smal...

Grant Range
£300 - £2,000

Mayfield Valley Arts Trust

Verified open

Matching 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 ...

Grant Range
£5,000 - £20,000

Mohn Westlake Foundation

Verified open

Matching 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...

Grant Range
£100,000 - £1,000,000

Music Venue Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: Liveline Fund

Music Venue Trust is a UK-registered charity founded in January 2014 to protect, secure, and improve grassroots music venues across England, Scotland,...

Grant Range
£1,000 - £20,000

National Funding Scheme

Verified open

Matching 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...

Grant Range
Contact funder

National Lottery Heritage Fund

Verified open

Matching 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 ...

Grant Range
£25,000 - £100,000

National Manuscripts Conservation Trust

Verified open

Matching 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...

Grant Range
£2,000 - £10,000

Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: Community Heritage Grant Fund

Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust (PKHT), an independent Scottish charity established in 1988, is dedicated to protecting, conserving, enhancing, and p...

Grant Range
Up to £5,000

Royal Ballet Benevolent Fund

Verified open

Matching programme: Grants for Dance Professionals

The Royal Ballet Benevolent Fund, also known as Dance Professionals Fund, is a specialist charity dedicated to relieving hardship among dance professi...

Grant Range
Contact funder

Royal Variety Charity

Verified open

Matching programme: Grant Scheme

The Royal Variety Charity, founded in 1908 as the Variety Artistes' Benevolent Fund and patronised by the reigning monarch since the early 20th centur...

Grant Range
£500 - £2,500

Sackler Trust

Verified open

Matching 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...

Grant Range
Contact funder

Swire Charitable Trust

Verified open

Matching 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...

Grant Range
£1,000 - £55,000

Theatres Trust Charitable Fund

Verified open

Matching programme: Theatre Improvement Scheme

The Theatres Trust Charitable Fund, established in 1977 to support the national advisory body Theatres Trust (created by the 1976 Theatres Trust Act),...

Grant Range
£5,000 - £20,000

Vivien and Peter Beckwith Young Musicians Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: The Beckwith Trust (main grant programme)

The Vivien and Peter Beckwith Young Musicians Trust, founded in 1992 by Peter Beckwith OBE with involvement from Vivien McLean Beckwith and trustee Le...

Grant Range
£2,000 - £50,000

Winston Churchill Memorial Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: Churchill Fellowship

The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, established in 1965 as a living memorial to Sir Winston Churchill through public subscription and government sup...

Grant Range
£4,000 - £8,000
518 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.

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

1

Describe Your Charity

Tell us what your charity does, who you help, and where you work. Takes 30 seconds.

2

Get Matched Instantly

Our AI ranks all 628 arts, culture & heritage funders by how well they fit your specific work.

3

Write Winning Applications

Our AI assistant helps you draft and refine grant applications tailored to each funder.

Which of These 628 Funders Are Right for You?

Browsing 628 funders manually takes hours. Describe your charity once and get your top matches ranked by compatibility — in seconds.

  • Personalised match scores
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