Community Arts Fund
The Community Arts Fund supports a range of arts, cultural and heritage activities. These include:
- music
- sound
- dance
- mime
- drama
- theatre
- storytelling
- creative writing
- poetry
- printmaking
- painting
- ceramics
- sculpture
- photography
- public art
- digital arts
- video
- media
- film and animation projects
- participatory outdoor arts and events
It aims to increase engagement in the arts in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. It encourages partnerships between established organisations, community groups and schools wherever possible.
The fund aims to support projects that:
- deliver new arts and cultural projects and programmes (we do not fund annual events)
- encourage active participation in the arts by a diverse cross section of the community including young people, older people, and under-represented groups within the Royal Borough of Greenwich
- create participatory work that animates town centres and outdoor spaces, attracting local audiences all over the borough
- develop partnerships between local cultural organisations, networks and groups
- encourage delivery of community-based arts and cultural programmes and projects
- are free of charge for our residents to experience or participate in
Our Community Review Panel will choose the successful projects for 2024. The panel is a group of residents from across the borough. This makes sure we commission a programme that is sympathetic to local needs.
Funding available
The total funding available is £50,000, allocated through 2 separate rounds of applications.
Applicants are invited to apply for a grant of up to £3000. We will consider awarding up to £5000 to projects that warrant additional funding.
How to apply
The fund will accept applications at two entry points in 2024.
- Round 1 is from Monday 8 April to Sunday 5 May.
- Round 2 is from Monday 7 October to Sunday 3 November.
There can only be one application from each project or organisation each year. Activity must take place between 1 July 2024 and 31 March 2025.
You must review the application guidance and template application form before starting the online application form. You cannot save the online application form as you go. It is important to prepare your application offline first. If you need the guidance in another format, email artsgreenwich@royalgreenwich.gov.uk.
You can also complete our equalities monitoring form. This helps us understand who is applying to the fund and makes sure it is accessible to all. You do not have to provide this information.
We look forward to receiving your application.
Successful applicants 2024 to 2025: Round 1
The 2024 Community Arts Fund funded the following organisations and their projects:
Acosta Dance Foundation – Rise Up and Dance!
A series of free dance classes, workshops, and initiatives that aim to improve the health, wellbeing, and access to the arts for young people in Greenwich. The programme will offer participants the opportunity to see and be inspired by professional Cuban dancers in training at the Acosta Dance Centre, culminating in a final showcase at Woolwich Works.
Arts Trust Productions – Summer in the Park
A Community-led, co-designed programme of activities in parks and “forgotten spaces" across the Borough during Summer months: Funding will support community picnics in Gallions and Queenscroft Parks, alongside a youth festival and a series of Silent Disco Skate Jams in Greenwich Park.
Black Female Entrepreneur Greenwich – Africa Cultural Festival
A series of cultural heritage activities, workshops and seminars showcasing the diversity of African artistic traditions: this will include drumming workshops at Plumstead Library, sewing classes at Tramshed, basket weaving sessions in Eltham and Afrobeats dance classes in Kidbrooke and Woolwich.
Greenwich Mummies Forum – Nepalese Dance and Cultural Program
12 week programme of activities for young people exploring Nepalese culture at the Plumstead Centre. Participants will learn a of series dances, making use traditional music, costumes, and props, creating an immersive experience and fostering cultural appreciation for Nepalese culture and its significance in the Borough of Greenwich.
Index Care – Colour Me Happy: Art and music fusion for well-being
Project aimed at nurturing artistic expression among adults and young people with learning difficulties. Over six engaging sessions, participants will explore diverse art forms, including charcoal drawing and ceramics, while being inspired by local poets, musicians, and dancers, culminating in an evening of music and poetry.
Lykwe @ Plot 9 Maze Hill – Star-Crossed, an original play written for the community space Plot 9 Maze Hill
Four theatre performances at new community space, Plot 9 Maze Hill. Participants will also engage with a programme of workshops in which they write and perform a creative response to the space, with their work being displayed for future visitors.
Ukrainian Arts Hub – Ukrainian Culture Days
Series of workshops for residents to explore the culture of Ukraine: this will include sessions on art, dance and folklore, creating a deeper understanding of the nation’s influence on the cultural, artistic and musical histories of Eastern Europe.
UK Latin Community CIC – Latin-Expo 2024 Summer Edition
Day-long celebration of Latin American culture through music, dance and food at Cutty Sark Gardens, showcasing traditional and contemporary art forms to create a deeper appreciation and understanding of Latin American cultures.