Other Funding Sources

Leeds City Council Community Committees: Each community committee has a yearly budget to give grants to community projects and youth activities that will benefit the local area.  There are small grants up to £500, and large grants over £500.

Funding Leeds: Funding Leeds is a public and third sector partnership - helping the voluntary, social enterprise, and community sectors in Leeds find the funds to achieve their vision.

Leeds Community Foundation: Leeds Community Foundation distributes vital grants and gives trusted advice to Community Organisations across Leeds and Bradford to influence positive change. 

Arts Council England: We are the national development agency for creativity and culture.

Arts & Humanities Research Council: AHRC funds outstanding original research across the whole range of the arts and humanities.

BFI UK Global Screen Fund: The UK Global Screen Fund (UKGSF) is designed to boost international development, production, distribution, and promotional opportunities for the UK’s independent screen sector.

Esme Fairbairn Foundation: We want  to ensure that our natural world is restored and protected and that people benefit from that recovery. 

Garfield Weston Foundation: Garfield Weston Foundation is a family founded grant-maker that gives money to support a wide range of charities across the UK. 

Grand Plan: Since launching in May 2021, Grand Plan has backed more than 150 artists with £1,000 grants.  Our no-fuss application process has been shaped and led by artists, and we exist to support those who are often overlooked by traditional funders. We’re currently busy fundraising, and aiming to reopen applications in early 2025.

Jerwood: Jerwood Foundation supports excellence and emerging talent in the arts in the UK and welcomes funding applications from organisations.

John Ellerman Foundation: We aim to advance the wellbeing of people, society and the natural world by focusing on the arts, environment and social action. 

National Lottery Heritage Fund: We are the largest funder for the UK’s heritage.

Paul Hamlyn Foundation: At Paul Hamlyn Foundation, we work collaboratively with organisations and individuals who are working to build a just society.

Rayne Foundation: The Rayne Foundation’s purpose is to effect and promote positive social change.

The Fore: The Fore is the only venture philanthropy fund in the UK turbo-charging exceptional small charities transforming lives and society.

The Wolfson Foundation: Our main grants programme provides support for places. These grants are for capital initiatives, i.e. buildings (new build or refurbishment) and equipment.

UK Community Foundations: The community foundation model is placed based. This means that grants are distributed according to the particular needs of the local area or region in which the funder is based.

Help Musicians: Funding wizard

Music For All: Music for All is dedicated to changing lives across the UK by improving access to music making. A range of funding available.

Music:Leeds: Supporting, promoting, developing all music in Leeds.

PRS Foundation: We are the UK’s leading charitable funder of new music and talent development.

Youth Music: Youth Music is a national charity funded thanks to the National Lottery via Arts Council England, players of People's Postcode Lottery and support from partners, fundraisers and donors.

Resources

Launchpad: Launchpad supports the music sector across Yorkshire, providing and signposting to advice, funding and opportunities - for artists, music businesses and music industry professionals.

Leeds Music Library: The newly refurbished Music Library, on the first floor of Leeds Central Library, is the largest in the north of England. It’s a dynamic and collaborative space designed to provide opportunities to learn, listen, record, and play. It features state-of-the-art facilities, including walk-in recording studios, pianos and other instruments, as well as podcasting equipment, all free for public use.

Studio12: Studio12 is a digital media project for people aged 16–30 providing free access to a production studio, computers and training

West Yorkshire Music Network: The West Yorkshire Music Network represents everyone working in music across our region.

AD:VENTURE Help to start & grow your business: A catalyst for your growth, our high-quality support services are available to new businesses and existing enterprises under three years' old.

Business and IP Centre Leeds: Free support to new and existing businesses, or anyone with a business idea in Leeds and West Yorkshire.

UK based funds

Arts Council England's Develop Your Creative Practice Fund: Individual artists and/or creative practitioners can apply for a £2,000–£10,000 grant to build new networks, create new work or pursue research and development opportunities – including overseas.

British Council Arts Opportunities: Browse their latest opportunities for artists and creative industry professionals, practitioners and organisations.

British Council International Collaboration Grants: Supporting UK and overseas organisations to make connections and create new work around the world. 

British Council Festival Travel Grants: Grants of up to £3000, to enable either a representative from a UK festival to visit a festival or festivals in mainland China.

Four Nations International Fund:  The Four Nations International Fund supports those working in the arts and creative industries across the UK nations, together with their counterparts in Europe and beyond: 

PRS for Music Foundation International fund: The International Showcase Fund (ISF) offers grants of up to £5,500 for international export opportunities for UK-based artists, bands, songwriters and producers who have been invited to perform or create new music at international industry facing showcasing festivals, song writing camps or conferences.

Transartists: Funding for residence programmes worldwide.

UKRI: Horizon Europe is an EU research and innovation programme. It has a budget of €95.5 billion and runs until 2027.

International based funds (Open to UK artists)

Please note, we cannot guarantee that you are eligible for these grants as a UK artist.

Denmark

Kunst (Danish Arts Foundation): We are Denmark’s largest arts foundation. We work to spread the arts to a wide audience all over Denmark, to promote Danish art internationally, and to pave the way for talented artists.

Estonia

Enterprise Estonia: We support the organisation of an international cultural or sports events in Estonia.

Finland

Finnish Cultural Foundation:  (Eligible provided application demonstrates clear, strong ties to Finland or Finnish culture) The purpose of the Finnish Cultural Foundation's Art for Everyone funding form is to increase the opportunities of people in need of care or support to experience high-quality art and in this manner promote cultural equality.

Germany

Berliner Kuenstlerprogramm:    (This opportunity has closed but worth knowing for next year)

Hauptstadtkulturfonds (German Capital Cultural Fund): The Capital Cultural Fund sponsors cultural projects and events— including inter- and transdisciplinary projects—in practically all areas of the arts. Funded projects should be of significance to Berlin as the German capital and also of national and international relevance.

Kulturstiftung Des Bundes (German Federal Culture Foundation): The primary task of the German Federal Cultural Foundation is to promote innovative programmes and projects in an international context.

Iceland

The Icelandic Centre for Research: The Icelandic Centre for Research coordinates and promotes Icelandic participation in European cooperation programmes, such as Horizon Europe, Erasmus+ and Creative Europe, as well as other international programmes.

Icelandic Art Centre: The Icelandic Art Center, IAC, promotes and supports Icelandic contemporary art internationally through grants, collaborations and projects. 

The Netherlands

Creative Industries Fund NL: The Creative Industries Fund NL for design, architecture and digital culture, is one of the six Dutch cultural funds. The other five funds are the Cultural Participation Fund, the Performing Arts Fund NL, the Mondriaan Fund, the Netherlands Film Fund and the Dutch Foundation for Literature.

Mondriaan: Dutch visual arts and cultural heritage sector grants, including UK based artists.

Performing Arts Fund NL: The Performing Arts Fund NL is the national fund for professional music, (music) theatre, dance and festivals in the Netherlands. Includes UK artists and organisations. 

Sweden

Kulturradet (Sweden): Within several of our grants it is possible to apply for funding of international collaboration and exchange. 

Useful information

Arts Infopoint UK: - Supporting creative visits to and from the UK. 

IETM: One of the oldest and largest international cultural networks, representing the voice of over 500 member organisations and individual professionals working in the contemporary performing arts worldwide. 

Mobility Funding Guide to the UK: This funding guide includes two kinds of mobility opportunities for artists and culture professionals: outgoing and incoming.