Apply now for our new Create Grants
Fresh from launching its first ever Culture Strategy, the Royal Borough of Greenwich is revamping its small arts and culture funding into one exciting new programme; Create Grants.
The Create programme incorporates the existing Community Arts and Black History 365 (BH365) project funding and supports the council’s commitment to the three themes of its Culture Strategy: Create, Connect and Flourish.
The streamlined application process will now be open to freelance artists and grassroots organisations, as well as community arts and culture groups and arts organisations, offering wider access to project funding across the local creative sector than ever before.
Councillor Sandra Bauer, Cabinet Member for Equality, Culture and Communities, said: “Over the past two years, we’ve collaborated with residents, and the arts and culture sector to develop our first ever Culture Strategy. As part of this process, freelancers and smaller organisations told us we needed to widen access to arts funding, to support the aspirations of local artists and empower them to develop and grow.
“We’ve listened, and now we’re streamlining the way local creatives can access our arts funding programmes. We’re also recruiting two community panels to help us co-commission the first year of Create Community Arts and Black History 365 projects, following the success of our first two panels.”
“Arts and culture are key to our communities thriving, and our updated grant funding programmes support vision of our Culture Strategy, to be a place where creative people, innovation and cultural connections inspire, encourage and flourish.”
What’s changed?
- Applications for Create Grants will open once a year.
- Applicants will apply via one online form for either project, or submit an application via video, audio or by email.
- We will now accept applications at three funding levels: freelance creative practitioners/producers, grassroots and small arts organisations and a special award for Community Arts and BH365 schemes.
Read guidance notes and apply before 5pm on Sunday 3 August at: royalgreenwich.gov.uk/apply-create-grant
Create Community Advisory Panels
We're also looking for people who live, work or study in the borough to be part of two separate panels who will help commission Create for 2025 to 2026.
To apply to be an Advisory Panel member for either Create Grant (Community Arts or BH365), email a summary of your skills and experience in no more than 250 words and tell us why you would make a positive contribution as a panel member to artsgreenwich@royalgreenwich.gov.uk by 12noon on Monday 21 July.
About the Greenwich Culture Strategy
From November 2023 to January 2024, the council consulted and engaged with residents, community groups and the local arts and culture sector to develop the borough’s first ever Culture Strategy.
Building on a position of strength, the co-created strategy sets out a clear and impactful vision for culture in the borough:
“In 2030, the Royal Borough of Greenwich will be a place where creative people, innovation and cultural connections inspire, encourage and flourish.”