The perfect match for your project

A new fund has been released by Grimsby Creates to help increase investment across North East Lincolnshire in arts, culture and heritage activities and events.

Applicants can bid into the Creative Match Fund for up to £5,000 and use this as match funding for revenue bids to heritage and arts funders, such as Arts Council England or National Lottery Heritage Fund.

It could also be used as match funding for other funders including trusts and foundations (e.g. Architectural Heritage Fund or Esmee Fairbairn Foundation), public funders (e.g. Historic England) or National Lottery Community Fund.

For North East Lincolnshire, the specific aims of the £60,000 Creative Match Fund are to:

• Increase investment in arts, culture and heritage activities in North East Lincolnshire
• Increase footfall and visitor numbers in North East Lincolnshire, especially in town centres
• Engage more people to participate in creative activities
• Encourage volunteering and participation

There is no fixed deadline for applications, but funding will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Grants of between £500 and £5,000 are available, with the maximum grant award being 10% of costs, or £5,000 (whichever is the smaller). In exceptional circumstances grants of over £5,000 may be offered.

In order to be eligible for this grant stream, the project or activity must be planning to apply to a major grant or funding body, and also:

• deliver an element of the North East Lincolnshire Creative Strategy,
• Be a revenue (i.e. not building) project
• Engage with local people
• Be based within North East Lincolnshire
• Be completed by March 2025

Cllr Tom Furneaux, Cabinet member for culture, said: “I know that money is a big barrier for lots of organisations and individuals when they’re considering putting on projects. The aim of this fund is to make sure that we remove that barrier as much as we can and help provide a springboard for creative ideas.”

To access an application form for the funding, visit www.grimsbycreates.co.uk or UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) | NELC (nelincs.gov.uk)

If you have any questions regarding a potential application or would like to discuss your ideas, please contact [email protected].

The Creative Match Fund has been developed using UK Shared Prosperity Funding, a central pillar of the UK Government’s Levelling up agenda.