The new £85million Creative Foundations Fund has now been launched. The fund will provide capital grants for not-for-profit creative and cultural organisations to improve and restore existing cultural buildings and equipment. The Creative Foundations Fund is part of the Arts Everywhere Fund announced by the government in February; it is being delivered by the Arts Council.
The aim of the fund is to revitalise existing cultural assets in order to improve the economic sustainability of the creative and cultural sector. Applications can be made for grants of between £100,000 and £10million for building work to existing cultural buildings or expanded cultural facilities within an existing site and for moveable furniture, equipment and vehicles. If applying for moveable assets only, the maximum grant is £1m.
Applicants will need to provide match funding towards the project: 5% for grants up to £1m; 10% for grants between £1m and £5m; 15% for grants above £5m. This must be secured before you can start your project. You cannot use other Arts Council England funds as your match funding.
Not-for-profit cultural organisations based in England can apply. Your organisation must be registered with Companies House and/or with the Charity Commission or similar regulatory authority and you must demonstrate that your organisation has presented or delivered cultural activity in the last 12 months.
Note that statutory and public bodies that run or maintain cultural services can apply but museums and libraries are not eligible.
Projects may start from 1 April 2026 and end by 31 March 2029.
Focus of fund/fund aims:
Capital grants for not-for-profit cultural organisations
Application deadline:
Expressions of Interest can be submitted between 30 June and 31 July 2025
Fund description:
https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/our-open-funds/creative-foundations-fund-guidance-applicants