Searching for Arts Funding?
Pulling together funding opportunities can feel a bit like herding caffeinated cats, so this article offers a clear roundup of grants currently available across Wales for arts organisations, creatives, and community‑led cultural projects. It’s designed as a helpful starting point rather than a definitive directory — eligibility criteria, deadlines, and programme details may change, and some funds have specific requirements not fully captured here. Always check the official funder’s website before applying, and consider this list a friendly guide rather than formal advice. Now, with the disclaimers out of the way, let’s dive into who’s funding what in Wales’ creative landscape. I should note that I’ve used AI to format this into a consistent pattern to help readability (and as there’s only so many hours in the day!) For that reason; although we do everything possible to ensure the accuracy of the information, you should always check the individual funders website and we cant accept responsibility for any inaccuracies.
Garfield Weston Foundation
What it is: A major UK‑wide charitable foundation distributing around £100m annually.
Relevance to arts: They fund arts, heritage, culture, community spaces, education, and small charities — ideal for arts organisations, venues, festivals, and community‑led creative projects.
Typical grant size: £5,000–£150,000+
Link: https://garfieldweston.org
Explore: Garfield Weston
Laura Ashley Foundation
What it is: A Wales‑focused foundation supporting arts, crafts, education, rural communities, and sustainability.
Relevance to arts: Excellent for small arts organisations, craft‑based projects, heritage skills, textiles, design, community arts, and rural creative initiatives.
Grant size: Up to £10,000 (must be at least 10% of project cost).
Link: https://www.ashleyfamilyfoundation.org.uk/what-projects-we-fund
Explore: Laura Ashley Foundation
National Lottery Community Fund (Wales)
Awards for All Wales
Focus: Community cohesion, wellbeing, early‑stage support, cost‑of‑living resilience.
Relevance to arts: Perfect for small arts projects, workshops, community festivals, pilot programmes, youth arts, and local creative engagement.
Grant size: £300–£20,000
Link: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/funding-programmes/national-lottery-awards-for-all-wales
Explore: Awards for All
People & Places (Medium & Large Grants)
Focus: Community‑led projects responding to local needs.
Relevance to arts: Ideal for venues, capital projects, multi‑year arts programmes, community arts development, and large‑scale creative interventions.
Grant size: £20,001–£500,000
Link: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/funding-programmes/people-and-places
Explore: People & Places
Supporting Great Ideas
Focus: Innovative ideas with potential UK‑wide impact.
Relevance to arts: Strategic arts innovation, new creative models, sector‑wide solutions, digital arts transformation.
Status: Often cyclical — check current availability.
Link: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/funding-programmes/supporting-great-ideas
Explore: Supporting Great Ideas
Climate Action Fund – Food Systems
Focus: Climate‑positive food system projects.
Relevance to arts: Cross‑sector creative projects exploring food, sustainability, community growing, eco‑arts, climate storytelling.
Link: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/funding-programmes/climate-action-fund-food-systems
Explore: Climate Action Fund
Sustainable Steps Wales – Egin Grants
Focus: Community climate action and sustainability.
Relevance to arts: Eco‑arts, green festivals, sustainable creative practice, community engagement through arts.
Status: Open/varies
Link: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/funding-programmes/sustainable-steps-wales-egin-grants
Explore: Egin Grants
People and Places
Relevance to arts: Ideal for venues, capital projects, multi‑year arts programmes, community arts development, and large‑scale creative interventions.
Grant size: £20,001–£500,000
Link: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/funding-programmes/people-and-places
Explore: People & Places
Arts Council of Wales (Individuals & Organisations)
Research & Development (Individuals)
Relevance: Artists developing new work, testing ideas, exploring creative practice.
Link: https://arts.wales/funding/individuals/research-and-development-0
Explore: ACW R&D
Creative Practice (Individuals)
Relevance: Supports artists to grow, refine, or deepen their practice.
Link: https://arts.wales/funding/individuals/creative-practice
Explore: Creative Practice
Create & Engage
Relevance: Community arts, participatory arts, socially engaged practice.
Link: https://arts.wales/funding/individuals/create-and-engage
Explore: Create & Engage
International Opportunities Fund
Relevance: Touring, international collaboration, residencies, cross‑border creative partnerships.
Link: https://arts.wales/funding/international/international-opportunities-fund
Explore: International Fund
Research and Development
Relevance: Supports Development for Output
Link: https://arts.wales/funding/individuals/research-and-development-0
Explore: ACW R&D
Creative Practice (Individuals)
Relevance: Supports artists to grow, refine, or deepen their practice.
Link: https://arts.wales/funding/individuals/creative-practice
Explore: Creative Practice
Welsh Church Act
Welsh Church Act Fund (Vale of Glamorgan)
Focus: Community, heritage, culture, and social projects.
Relevance to arts: Community arts, heritage arts, local festivals, small capital items for arts spaces.
Closing date: Annual cycles — check current round.
Link: https://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/working/Welsh-Church-Act-Fund.aspx
Explore: Welsh Church Act Fund
C3SC (Cardiff Third Sector Council)
Autumn Festival Small Grants
Relevance: Community arts, local festivals, creative engagement.
Closing date: Varies annually
Link: https://c3sc.org.uk/autumn-festival-small-grants-applications-closing-soon/
Explore: Autumn Festival Grants
Third Sector Capital Fund 2026–27
Relevance: Capital improvements for arts venues, equipment, accessibility upgrades.
Link: https://c3sc.org.uk/third-sector-capital-fund-2026-27-open-for-applications/
Explore: Capital Fund
Cardiff Youth‑Led Grant
Relevance: Youth arts, youth‑led creative projects, emerging artists.
Link: https://c3sc.org.uk/cardiff-youth-led-grant-funding-open-for-2026-27/
Explore: Youth‑Led Grants
Warm Spaces Grant
Relevance: Creative warm‑space programming, community arts in accessible venues.
Link: https://c3sc.org.uk/apply-now-warm-spaces-grant-2025-26/
Explore: Warm Spaces
WCVA (Wales Council for Voluntary Action)
Communities
Relevance: Arts‑based wellbeing, community storytelling, creative mental health projects.
Link: https://wcva.cymru/comic-relief-cwtch-communities/
Explore: Cwtch Communities
VWG (Volunteering Wales Grants)
Relevance: Arts volunteering programmes, community arts engagement.
Link: https://wcva.cymru/funding/vwg/
Explore: VWG
Social Investment Cymru
Relevance: Loans/social finance for arts organisations scaling up, buying equipment, or developing venues.
Link: https://wcva.cymru/social-investment-cymru/
Explore: Social Investment Cymru
Moondance Foundation
Currently Closed, but worth Bookmarking