EXTERNAL CHARITY GRANTS
(Image above, credited to Carrie Davenport, Young At Art, Northern Ireland).
We believe in the power of the arts to enrich lives, inspire learning and bring people together.
That's why we proudly support arts organisations, museums, heritage projects and community initiatives through our grants programmes, helping to preserve and share culture, creativity and heritage for future generations. By funding inspiring projects across the UK and beyond, we help make the arts more accessible and support the communities that keep them thriving.
External Charity Grants applications will now open once a year in the Autumn.
Opens: 1 September 2026
Closes: 30 September 2026 at 23:59
Grant amount: Up to £3,000 per project
To ensure application numbers are manageable and focussed, the Grants Committee will select a specific funding theme each year. Only projects that align with that year's theme will be eligible for consideration.
Autumn 2026
The theme is: Community Engagement
We welcome applications from organisations seeking funding for projects that meet all of the following criteria:
- - Focus on public arts or heritage events and festivals.
- - Centre on community participation and cohesion.
- - Bring the arts or heritage into shared public places.
All projects should:
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- Provide access to arts and heritage for people who may not otherwise have opportunities to engage, particularly projects that improve wellbeing and/or reduce isolation and/or remove access barriers.
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- Deliver meaningful benefit at a grassroots level, with a clear positive impact for local communities.
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- Be viable, well-managed and sustainable.
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- Present a viable timetable, robust budget and sound financial plan.
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- Include appropriate recognition for The Arts Society.
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- Be documented, monitored and reported back to The Arts Society.
Funding eligibility
Applicants must be UK registered charities. CICs, schools, PTA groups, Friends groups and individuals are not eligible to apply directly to this grants programme.
We are unable to fund:
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- Charities with an annual turnover of over £1million (please note, reserves will be taken into account, as defined by the Charity Commission “that part of a charity’s income funds that is freely available”).
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- Capital expenditure, including staff costs, core costs or general operating costs.
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- Projects that have already begun or been completed.
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- Applications exceeding the maximum grant amount of £3,000.
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- Repeat applications within two full years of receiving a grant.
How to apply
Complete the External Charity Grant application form here when applications open on 1 September 2026.
Applicants will be notified of the Grants Committee's decision as soon as possible after the closing date.
Please note: Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide feedback on unsuccessful applications.
Have a question? Email the Grants Team at Grants@theartssociety.org