Grant News
Arts Council England has published details of Round 2 of the Creative Foundations Fund, a capital programme supporting creative and cultural organisations in England to restore, renew, retrofit or revitalise buildings and equipment. Arts Council England champions, develops and invests in arts, museums, libraries and creative and cultural activity across England.
The fund supports projects where investment in buildings or equipment is business-critical. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit cultural organisations based in and registered in England, such as charities, CIOs, CICs, charitable companies, non-profit companies, public bodies that run cultural services, and some community benefit societies.
Funding is available through two strands:
- Strand 1: £100,000 to £1 million, covering Building Projects, Equipment purchases or a combination of both
- Strand 2: more than £1 million to £10 million, covering Building Projects or combined Building Projects and Equipment Purchases (Equipment-only projects are not permitted in Strand 2).
The funding can be used for capital expenditure linked to cultural assets, including urgent works that prevent organisations from delivering services to the public. Museums, libraries, individuals and profit-distributing organisations cannot apply.
Applications are made through a two-stage process via Grantium. Expressions of interest will open on 22 June 2026 and close at noon on 17 July 2026. Applications successful at this stage will be invited to submit a full application by noon on 23 October 2026.
Useful Links:
Creative Foundations Fund: Round 2 (Strand 1)