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
19 of 628 match your filtersChecked against verified programme data for 130 of 628 funders. 498 not yet verified are listed below; 111 that don't fit were excluded.
Ampersand Foundation
Matching programme: The Ampersand Foundation Award
The Ampersand Foundation, established in 2011 by philanthropist Jack Kirkland, is a UK grant-awarding trust dedicated to advancing education and publi...
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
Matching programme: National Lottery Project 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 ...
Bòrd na Gàidhlig
Matching programme: Taic Freumhan Coimhearsnachd 2026-28
Bòrd na Gàidhlig, established by the Scottish Parliament under the 2005 Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act as an executive non-departmental public body, l...
Clive Richards Foundation
Matching programme: Bursary Scheme
The Clive Richards Foundation, established in 1986 by entrepreneur Clive Richards and his wife Sylvia (renamed in Clive's honour after his 2021 passin...
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 ...
Grantscape
Matching programme: Middlemoor Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund (Organisations)
Grantscape, established in 1997, is a specialist UK charitable grant-maker dedicated to strengthening local communities and protecting the natural env...
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...
Isabel Blackman Foundation
Matching programme: Main Grants Programme
The Isabel Blackman Foundation, established in 1967 by the late Isabel Blackman, is a charitable trust dedicated to advancing education and social wel...
John Jackson Charitable Trust
Matching programme: Grants
The John Jackson Charitable Trust, established in 2011 through the will of lifelong Eastbourne resident John Alan Jackson, is a permanent endowment de...
Lake District Foundation
Matching programme: Real Hedge Fund
The Lake District Foundation, successor to Nurture Lakeland, drives a mission to safeguard the Lake District's natural environment, rich heritage, and...
Letchworth Civic Trust
Matching programme: School Grant
Letchworth Civic Trust, established in 1914 as a company limited by guarantee, is a longstanding grant-making charity rooted in Letchworth Garden City...
Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund
Matching programme: Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund
Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund, established by Manchester Airport Plc, drives a mission to mitigate airport operations' environmental and soc...
Mobbs Memorial Trust Limited
Matching programme: General Grant Programme
The Mobbs Memorial Trust Limited, established in 1956 by Sir Noel Mobbs using family endowment funds, is a family-governed grantmaker dedicated to pre...
St Marylebone Educational Foundation
Matching programme: Grants for Organisations
The St Marylebone Educational Foundation, tracing its roots to the 1750 founding of St Marylebone Charity School for orphaned and impoverished childre...
Stanley Picker Trust
Matching programme: Annual Scholarship or Fellowship Funding
The Stanley Picker Trust, established in 1977 by New York-born entrepreneur and arts philanthropist Stanley Herbert Picker, advances education in fine...
Town Trust or Lords Estate
Matching programme: Charitable Funding for Organisations
The Stratford Town Trust (also known as Town Trust or Lords Estate) is a historic registered charity (no. 252207) deeply rooted in Stratford-upon-Avon...
Vivien and Peter Beckwith Young Musicians Trust
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...
Wolfson Foundation
Matching programme: Health & Disability programme
The Wolfson Foundation, an independent UK grant-making charity established in 1955 by Sir Isaac Wolfson, advances excellence and opportunity in scienc...
Wright's Clock Land CIO
Matching programme: Main Grants Programme
Wright's Clock Land CIO, established in October 2020 as a charitable incorporated organisation succeeding the 1525 Wright's Clock Land Charity endowed...
498 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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