Currently 6 active cross-disciplinary and social impact grants, fellowships and residencies open to applicants in the UK. Hand-curated and updated weekly. Almost every entry is funded; a few notable unpaid open calls and festival submissions are included as clearly flagged exceptions. Browse the list below, or use the interactive desk for filtering and shortlisting.
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Creative Steps funds the professional, business and organisational development of artists who have experienced barriers to careers within the arts. Creative Steps for Individuals is open to individual artists and creatives who identify as being Ethnically and Culturally diverse, D/deaf, disabled or neurodivergent, groups that are underrepresented in Arts Council of Wales funding programmes due to barriers to entry. Applicants must have demonstrable experience as an artist or creative professional; those without may still be supported on the basis of artistic potential by submitting a portfolio, CV or examples of work, discussed with a Relationship Manager. WHAT IT SUPPORTS: career development, NOT creating new work or project delivery. Examples include peer-to-peer learning, training courses (not formal/vocational education), building networks, mentorship/coaching, business development/social media/marketing advice, website development/marketing materials/equipment or materials, and setting up a new organisation. Budgets may include the applicant's own time, freelancer costs (paid at standard industry rates), mentor/consultant costs, access costs, and childcare/caregiving costs. AMOUNT: GBP 500 to GBP 7,500 (plus access costs); up to 90% of the developmental cost, with the remaining 10% from a non-Arts Council of Wales / non-National Lottery source (in-kind, cash, or both, confirmed by letters of support). No application fee. APPLY: applicants must express interest at least 3 weeks before the deadline to receive support from an Application Coach or Access Support coordinator; an application form is provided by a Relationship Manager. The fund runs in rounds; the next round (Round 2 2026) has an Expression of Interest cut-off of 8 July 2026 and an application deadline of 29 July 2026. Later rounds: Round 3 (EOI 30 September, deadline 21 October 2026) and Round 4 (EOI 10 February, deadline 3 March 2027).
Project Funding for Individuals, part of Arts Council NI's National Lottery Support for Individual Artists Programme (SIAP), funds project-based creative activities across all artistic disciplines. Eligible activities include creating new work, research and development, residencies, mentoring, professional development, and time dedicated to specific creative outcomes. ELIGIBLE COSTS: art materials, artist fees/time, residency costs, travel (mileage at GBP 0.257/mile), venue hire, technical equipment (max 50% of request value), and IT equipment (laptops/PCs up to GBP 1,200; tablets up to GBP 500). ELIGIBILITY: artists of all disciplines and career stages, including emerging artists (less than 5 years professional experience), and in some cases technical staff/administrators; students and academics at third-level institutions may apply with departmental approval showing the costs are not covered by their employer or academic work. AMOUNT: GBP 62 to GBP 15,000. No application fee. Deadline: Thursday 30 July 2026, 12:00 noon (online submission required).
The Artists' International Development Fund (AIDF), part of Arts Council NI's National Lottery Support for Individual Artists Programme (SIAP), funds early-stage international development opportunities for individual, freelance and self-employed artists to build networks abroad. ELIGIBLE COSTS: art materials, travel, residencies (up to 4 weeks), technical fees, venue hire, and equipment, with IT devices capped at GBP 1,200 for laptops/PCs and GBP 500 for tablets. ELIGIBILITY: artists across all disciplines, particularly emerging artists (under 5 years professional experience); academics and students at third-level institutions may apply if the project differs from their employment/studies. AIDF applicants must have received recognition for their work in Northern Ireland, lack extensive international experience, and demonstrate interest in their work from an overseas partner/host. AMOUNT: GBP 62 to GBP 15,000. No application fee. Deadline: Thursday 30 July 2026, 12:00 noon.
The Open Fund for Individuals is one of Creative Scotland's key funding programmes, supporting the wide range of activity initiated by artists, writers, producers and other creative practitioners in Scotland. The overall annual budget for this fund is GBP 5 million. WHAT IT SUPPORTS: periods of research, development and/or delivery of creative activity, such as specific projects and productions, for up to 24 months; it can support an individual's time where this is related to specific creative outcomes. Applicants are asked to give a start and end date for the activity and to describe the outcomes, benefits and impacts they wish to achieve. ELIGIBILITY: freelance and self-employed artists and creative practitioners living in Scotland who are at least 18 years old; applicants must have a UK bank account in their own name. Those who are not self-employed individuals or sole traders may instead be eligible for the National Lottery Open Fund for Organisations. FUNDING AMOUNTS: between GBP 500 and GBP 50,000. TIMESCALES: requests between GBP 500 and GBP 20,000 receive an outcome in about 10 weeks; requests between GBP 20,001 and GBP 50,000 in about 14 weeks. This is a rolling open fund with no fixed deadline. Download the guidance for applicants and apply via the online portal.
Creative Debuts' Black Artists Grant (BAG) is a small, fast, recurring and unconditional cash grant for UK-based Black artists, deliberately barrier-free with no outcomes or reporting required. ELIGIBILITY: UK-based artists of Black heritage who self-identify as Black, across all creative disciplines (visual art, music, film, jewellery, sculpture, choreography and more); no age limit. One recipient is selected each month; apply once and the application is retained for future months. Apply via the Creative Debuts BAG page.
Monthly £500 grant for a different working-class creative practitioner based in the UK. Open to anyone making stuff: art, writing, performance, sound, music, craft, comedy, games. Money can be used for time, materials, equipment, research, subscriptions, development, travel, or rent and bills. Apply by emailing funding@thewhitepube.com with a brief intro, contact and a work sample. Rolling, no deadlines, no reporting expected. Non-recipients stay in consideration for future months without re-applying.