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
44 of 628 match your filtersChecked against verified programme data for 119 of 628 funders. 509 not yet verified are listed below; 75 that don't fit were excluded.
29th May 1961 Charity
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...
Adrian Swire Charitable Trust
Matching programme: Adrian Swire Charitable Trust (part of Swire Family Trusts)
The Adrian Swire Charitable Trust embodies a family-rooted philanthropic legacy dedicated to advancing charitable purposes across health, education, a...
Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation
Matching programme: Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation Grants
The Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation, established in June 2011 as the official charity arm of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship golf tournament, ch...
Anthem. Music Fund Wales
Matching programme: Atsain Fund
Anthem. Music Fund Wales, established in 2020 by the Welsh Government and Arts Council of Wales, is a pioneering endowment designed to transform acces...
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
Matching programme: Annual Funding Programme
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI), established in 1962, is the principal public funding body for the arts in Northern Ireland, distributing ...
British Record Industry Trust
Matching programme: BRIT Trust Grants
The British Record Industry Trust, known as The BRIT Trust, founded in 1989 by the UK recorded music industry, harnesses music and creative arts to tr...
CPF Trust
Matching programme: Standard Grants
The CPF Trust is a grant-making charity committed to strengthening UK charities by providing flexible financial support for diverse charitable purpose...
Cruden Foundation Ltd
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...
D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust
Matching programme: Large 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
Matching 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...
Elmley Foundation
Matching 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
Matching programme: Large 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
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 ...
Francis C Scott Charitable Trust
Matching 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
Matching programme: Freelands Awards 2026
Freelands Foundation is a UK charity dedicated to ensuring universal access to visual arts education and participation, empowering individuals regardl...
Goldsmiths' Company Charity
Matching programme: Open Grants Fund
The Goldsmiths' Company Charity, rooted in the historic Goldsmiths’ Company with charitable origins dating to 1334 and formal registration in the late...
Holkham Charitable Foundation
Matching programme: The Holkham Charitable Foundation
The Holkham Charitable Foundation embodies a legacy of family-led stewardship and social responsibility, established to champion local philanthropy as...
J G Graves Charitable Trust
Matching 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...
John Ellerman Foundation
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...
Margaret Davies Charity
Matching programme: Small Grants Fund
The Margaret Davies Charity, officially The Gwendoline and Margaret Davies Charity, was established by trust deed in 1934 to perpetuate the philanthro...
Marsh Christian Trust
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...
McCorquodale Charitable Trust
Matching programme: The McCorquodale Charitable Trust
The McCorquodale Charitable Trust, established in 1987 (charity number 297697), is a flexible, generalist UK funder dedicated to advancing a broad spe...
Mercers Charitable Foundation
Matching programme: Church & Communities
The Mercers’ Charitable Foundation, established in 1983 as the principal grant-making trust of The Mercers’ Company—London’s premier livery company fo...
Michael Bishop Foundation
Matching programme: Main Grants Programme
The Michael Bishop Foundation, established in 1987, advances philanthropy through strategic support for excellence in arts, culture, heritage preserva...
Mohn Westlake Foundation
Matching programme: The Mohn Westlake Arts Engagement Fund
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
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...
Nisbet Trust
Matching programme: Nisbet Trust Grants
The Nisbet Trust is an independent grant-making charity established in 2011 by the Nisbet family, with roots in Greater Bristol through Andrew Nisbet'...
Oakdale Trust
Matching programme: Grant Applications
The Oakdale Trust is a small, family-run charitable foundation established in 1946 by Brandon Cadbury, rooted in the Cadbury family's philanthropic le...
P H Holt Foundation
Matching 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...
Postcode Neighbourhood Trust
Matching programme: Postcode Neighbourhood Trust Community Grants
Postcode Neighbourhood Trust, a Scottish-registered charity and company limited by guarantee funded exclusively by People’s Postcode Lottery proceeds,...
Postcode Places Trust
Matching programme: Postcode Places Trust Grant Programme
Postcode Places Trust, a Scottish-registered charity (SC049115), channels funds raised through the People's Postcode Lottery to empower small charitie...
Roger & Douglas Turner Charitable Trust
Matching 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
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...
Shears Foundation
Matching programme: Core Grants Programme
The Shears Foundation, a family-led charitable foundation established in 1994 by Trevor and Lyn Shears from proceeds of the Go-Ahead transport group f...
Sheffield Grammar School Exhibition Foundation
Matching programme: Sheffield Grammar School Exhibition Foundation Grants
Sheffield Grammar School Exhibition Foundation advances educational opportunity for financially needy local city residents through scholarships, bursa...
Sheffield Town Trust
Matching programme: One-Off Project Grants
Sheffield Town Trust, founded in 1297 by Thomas de Furnival, is one of the UK's oldest charities and a pioneering civic trust originally created to gr...
Simon Gibson Charitable Trust
Matching programme: Simon Gibson Charitable Trust Grant
The Simon Gibson Charitable Trust, established in 1975 by farmer and philanthropist Simon Gibson, embodies a founding mission to provide sustained, pr...
Swire Charitable Trust
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...
Theatre Development Trust
Matching programme: Theatre Development Trust Grants Programme
Theatre Development Trust, the charitable arm of the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, advances dramatic and performing arts for public benefi...
Tobacco Pipe Makers and Tobacco Trade Benevolent Fund
Matching programme: General Fund
The Tobacco Pipe Makers and Tobacco Trade Benevolent Fund embodies a philanthropic heritage rooted in mutual aid, tradition, and stewardship from the ...
Triodos Foundation
Matching programme: Triodos Foundation Grant
Triodos Foundation, established in 1996 as an expression of Triodos Bank’s ethos of sustainable, ethical finance, is a UK-registered grant-maker dedic...
Trusthouse Charitable Foundation
Matching programme: Major Grants
Forte Charitable Foundation (formerly Trusthouse Charitable Foundation), established in 1997 from the sale of Trust House Forte plc, is an independent...
William Syson Foundation
Matching programme: Small Grants Fund
The William Syson Foundation, established in 2012 by lifelong Scottish arts patron William Syson, advances arts, heritage, and culture exclusively in ...
William Wates Memorial Trust
Matching programme: Main Grants Programme
The William Wates Memorial Trust, established in 1998 by the Wates family in memory of William Wates—who died tragically during his 1996 gap year—cham...
509 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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