Finance & funding
How to get some money for your project
 | Trying to forge a career in the arts can be an expensive business. Travelling to auditions, buying paint and other materials, stocking up on guitar strings are all pricey, never mind major expenditure such as tuition fees. How will you pay the fees and fund yourself? Getting financial support in the arts is very difficult and few manage to finance their passion or make a living out of it. In general, arts organisations are more likely to receive funding rather than individuals so it might be easier to start with contacting established arts organisations working with ex-offenders. Most of them will receive funding for their work and might place you on workshops for free. Another option could be to apply for a New Deal scheme and negotiate a work placement with them (see our Links section). You might also be entitled to a bursary for some courses. Check with each training provider on the support they can offer. Sometimes you might simply have to find some work elsewhere to finance your passion. The solutions are numerous if you have the necessary energy, self belief and conviction. Don't give up at the first dead end! We’ve identified important information resources and organisations which might be able to offer you financial support. Click on a section name below to navigate. General Funding / / Arts Funding / / Music / / Film / / Drama / / Dance / / Visual Arts / / Creative Writing |
General Funding go to top
THE WAKEHAM TRUST
The Wakeham Trust provide grants to help people rebuild their communities. They are particularly interested in neighbourhood projects, community arts projects, projects involving community service by young people, or projects set up by those who are socially excluded. They favour small projects - often, but not always, start-ups. Grants are typically in the range of £75 - £750. For more information and to apply online visit www.wakehamtrust.org
EUROPEAN FUNDING
Billions of Euros are flooding in to Central and Eastern Europe following the accession of several countries to the European Union. Good examples of these countries are the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland. Poland is receiving €70 billion between 2007 and 2013 and that amount is being matched by private investment and Government funding to reach €100 billion. j4bGrants can provide your organisation with a customised report showing funding that you can access should you wish to expand your activities into these countries. This service is launching soon so to express your interest please email europegrants@j4b.com
ADVENTURE CAPITAL FUND
The Adventure Capital Fund (ACF) offers a range of investments and support to develop community based enterprises. The aim of ACF is to fill the investment gap that faces community enterprise organisations, and to increase investment-readiness of community organisations wishing to move to greater sustainability through enterprise. The ACF offers two types of funding for established community organisations: the Main Investment Fund and the Managed Workspace Fund. More information can be found at: http://www.governmentfunding.org.uk/VCSSearch.aspx?WCI=htmSchemeView&WCU=DSCODE=DSCLIVEGF,SCHEMEID=12-S23,SEARCH=DS=DSCLIVEGF
THE BIG BOOST
The Big Boost wants to hear from young people who are keen to get involved in their communities. The awards help young people set up and run projects that we hope will make a lasting difference to them as well as to the areas they live in. A Big Boost Award is cash plus the support to help young people make their ideas a reality.
Funded by the Big Lottery Fund, the programme awards grants of between £250-£5,000 to help individuals and small groups of people aged between 11-25, deliver projects in their local areas.
It aims to reach young people from all backgrounds, to help them set up and run projects that will make a lasting difference.
www.thebigboost.org.uk
0845 4 10 20 30
A GUIDE TO GRANTS FOR INDIVIDUALS IN NEED
by Alan French, Dave Griffiths, Tom Traynor & Sarah Wiggins,December 2004
This guide gives details of over 2,500 national and local trusts which make grants to individuals.
Please contact your local library and/or jobcentre to have a look at a copy.
THE EDUCATIONAL GRANTS DIRECTORY
by Alan French, Dave Griffiths, Emma Jepson and Chris McGuire, November 2004
This directory gives details of a wide range of funds and other support available for schoolchildren and students in need, up to and including first-degree level. It also includes advice on making applications for each source.
Please contact your local library and/or jobcentre to have a look at a copy.
Alternatively, contact the Charity bookshop/library of the Directory of Social Change:
London office:
24, Stephenson Way
NW1 2DP
Library service 9am-5pm: 020 73914857
Liverpool office
Directory of Social Change
Federation House
Hope Street, Liverpool
L1 9BW
0151 708 0117
HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING COUNCIL FOR ENGLAND (HEFCE)
The HEFCE funds research in higher education (normally post-graduates). They have a Help-desk,
which is a central point for enquiries about the HEFCE and higher education in general.
www.hefce.ac.uk
Help-desk
Higher Education Funding Council for England
Northavon House
Coldharbour Lane
Bristol BS16 1QD
0117 931 7438
LIFELONG LEARNING
This is a government website for adult education, including part-time courses, arts courses and funding information.
Note the link to “Money to Learn”. This is a booklet, that you can download from the site, aims to tell you everything you need to know about how to get financial support while you’re studying (age 19 and over).
The direct link is:
www.lifelonglearning.co.uk/moneytolearn/index.htm
THE LONGFORD TRUST
www.longfordtrust.org
The Longford Trust offer support and scholarships for ex-prisoners who wish to pursue higher education within five years of release. Scholarships are worth up to £5,000 per year for a maximum of three years.
Arts Funding go to top
CIBAS
Cibas (Creative Industries Business Advice) and South Coast Money Line have launched a unique new loan scheme especially for artists and small creative businesses. Applications are invited for a maximum £2,500 business loan - with the first £1,000 completely interest free. In addition, successful applicants will receive specialist one-to-one marketing mentor support over the 12 month loan period, together with advice and guidance from Cibas, both pre and post application. To find out more about the scheme, contact Cibas. The deadline for applications is 30 November 2007. The Creative Business Finance Scheme is a Cibas and South Coast Money Line partnership initiative. Cibas can be contacted at: Purple Door, Guildhall Walk, Portsmouth, PO1 2DD, tel: 023 9284 623, email:cibas@port.ac.uk or visit: http://www.port.ac.uk/cibas
ARTQUEST ARTS ADVICE
This website has been created to help you to pursue a successful career within the Creative Industries. There is an ask an advisor button on each page which allows you to obtain tailored career or course information by email. It also includes funding pages.
www.artquest.org.uk/money/funding/funding.htm
Ask an advisor: 0800 093 0444
ARTS COUNCILS ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND
The Arts Council is one of the most important resources for funding in Arts. They also offer tips and literature on how to apply for grants and awards.
Their grants are for individuals, arts organisations and other people who use the arts in their work. They are for arts-related activities that benefit people in England or that help artists and arts organisations in England to carry out their work. Your project must take place mainly in England.
http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/gfta.php
0845 300 6200
Check the website for an office close to you.
FUNDING AND FINANCE WEB RESOURCE
The Finance Hub has launched a new website featuring guidance on fundraising and managing money in the voluntary and community sector. It has been developed in particular for small voluntary and community organisations (VCOs) and people giving funding advice. The site features six key areas offering information and advice on: Funding fundamentals, grants and donations, selling goods and services, loans and equity finance, non-money support, and managing money and resources. The site also includes an interactive guide to funding enabling users to explore a variety of funding options. The web address is: www.financehub.org.uk
IDEAS FACTORY
The Ideas Factory provides funding options for the creative industries.
www.ideasfactory.com
enquiries@ideasfactory.com
(no phonenumber)
MONEY MAP
The ‘Money Map’ attempts to list funding schemes that might be open to creative businesses. You can also find the funding schemes that are exclusive to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and the English regions. This site is frequently updated.
www.culture.gov.uk/moneymap
Check the website for an office in your region.
Music go to top
TAKE IT AWAY
On 2 July 2007, Arts Council England launched 'Take it away', a new scheme aimed at making musical instruments more affordable, particularly for families and those on lower incomes. The objective of the scheme is to encourage more people to get involved in learning and playing music by removing the financial barrier that may have stopped them from doing this previously. The scheme allows individuals to apply for a loan of up to £2,000 for the purchase of any kind of musical instrument, and pay it back in nine monthly instalments (with a minimum 10% deposit), completely interest free. From electric guitars to classical harps, all instruments are included in the scheme and are encouraged by Arts Council England. Additionally, to help musical development and manage costs, where available equipment and services such as music stands, amplifiers, sheet music and tuition can also be included within the loan. Take it away will be open to anyone over 18 (although terms and conditions apply), but the scheme will specifically be targeted at three priority groups: Those buying an instrument for the first time, those buying an instrument for a young person, and people on lower than average incomes (£22,500). For further information please go to: www.artscouncil.org.uk/takeitaway
MUSICIANS BENEVOLENT FUND
The Musicians Benevolent Fund is the music business's own charity - the largest in the UK. We provide help and support to musicians and their dependants and also to those in related occupations when illness, accident or old age bring stress or financial burdens. We are able to help those living and working in the UK and Eire and also British Nationals living abroad.
www.mbf.org.uk
Musicians Benevolent Fund
16 Ogle Street
London
W1W 6JA
020 7636 4481
NEW DEAL
New Deal for Musicians is available to people of all ages on certain New Deals wanting to make a career as a musician. You may be able to get on this programme if you are: serious about wanting a career in the music industry; already on New Deal for Young People or already on New Deal 25 plus.
New Deal for Musicians covers all types of music for: instrumentalists, vocalists, composers and songwriters, performing DJs.
It does not yet cover people who wish to have careers in technical or management areas eg sound engineers or artist managers. Please vist their website for more information or call on 08 45 606 2626.
http://www.newdeal.gov.uk/newdeal.asp DealID=MUSIC&Show=SUMMARY
PRS FOUNDATION
The PRS Foundation for New Music (PRSF) is a refreshingly approachable and adventurous funding body. As the UK's largest independent funder purely for new music, The Foundation supports a huge range of new music activity - everything from unsigned band showcases to residencies for music creators, from ground-breaking commissions to live electronica.
www.prsfoundation.org.uk
The PRS Foundation
29-33 Berners Street
London W1T 3AB
020 7306 4044
Film go to top
THE FILM COUNCIL
The UK FILM COUNCIL provides funding for film production and training. Click on “funding” on the website to get information on different funding programmes.
The UK Film Council is the Government-backed strategic agency for film in the UK. Its main aim is to stimulate a competitive, successful and vibrant UK film industry and culture, and to promote the widest possible enjoyment and understanding of cinema throughout the nations and regions of the UK.
The UK FILM COUNCIL
10 Little Portland Street
London W1W 7JG
020 7861 7861
SCOTTISH SCREEN
This website has funding opportunities for Scotland-based projects. The website was under development on 15/11/2005)
Drama go to top
NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR DRAMA TRAINING (NCDT)
The National Council for Drama Training is a partnership of employers in theatre, broadcast and media industries, employee representatives and training providers.
The site provides information about cost of drama schools and possible funding for students.
www.ncdt.co.uk/cost.asp
National Council for Drama Training
1-7 Woburn Walk,
London,
WC1H 0JJ
020 7387 3650
Dance go to top
COUNCIL OF DANCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING (CDET)
The CDET lists the funding possibilities for dance training
http://www.cdet.org.uk/info_04.php
CDET, Old Brewer's Yard
17 - 19 Neal Street
Covent Garden
London WC2H 9UY
020 7240 5703
Visual Arts go to top
ARTQUEST
Artquest provides general and funding information and support for visual artists in London.
www.artquest.org.uk (no address)
Artquest also provides a list of funders in the UK:
www.artquest.org.uk/funding/ukartsmap/
ARTSCOUNCIL
The main funding body for the visual arts in Britain is the Arts Council.
www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/gfta.php
14 Great Peter Street
London SW1P 3NQ
Phone: 0845 300 6200
0845 300 6200
Creative Writing go to top
NAWE (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR WRITERS IN EDUCATION)
The National Association of Writers in Education (NAWE) is the one organization supporting the development of creative writing of all genres and in all educational and community settings throughout the UK.Their website has got a funding database which is regularly updated with all available information on writers' awards, bursaries and residencies.
www.nawe.co.uk
NAWE,
PO Box 1,
Sheriff Hutton,
York YO60 7YU
01653 618429