Create

We want to provide the freedom and flexibility for individuals and organisations to apply for what they want to do within the disciplines that we support.

However, your proposal will need to demonstrate how it will support us to advance our priorities in one or more of the following areas:

• Equalities and diversity 
• Reaching underrepresented communities, culturally, geographically, socially and economically 
• The Welsh language
• Climate justice 
• Nurturing creative talent 
• Developing partnerships to realise artistic ambitions in imaginative ways 
• Strengthening the capability and resilience of the arts to be more dynamic and sustainable

This might involve one or more of the following:

• Research and development  
• Creation of work for presentation
• Programming, presenting and touring
• Festivals 
• Participation and Community engagement
• Training or professional development 
• Business development (but not start-ups) 

Your project must take place mainly in Wales 

• We can only fund activities or events taking place outside of Wales where you can demonstrate longer-term benefit to individuals and communities within Wales.
• We can consider funding training or development activity that’s delivered outside Wales (where there is no similar provision in Wales). 
• We can consider funding some international activity as part of a wider project if a clear rationale is given. 

Your project must complement and enhance your usual programme of activity 

• This means it should not be part of your core activity or include core costs. This is particularly the case with members of the Arts Portfolio Wales. 

Your project must involve working with others 

The best projects happen when partners are involved. We’ll expect to see you working with at least one other individual or organisation who’ll support you to develop and deliver your project. This could be:

• a partner organisation
• artistic collaborator
• critical friend
• artistic mentor
• business advisor
• training provider

Your project must be time limited 

This means it has a definite start and end date. It’s a good idea to allow yourself some extra time in case you need to send us more information following an award being made. 

You must have other funding to contribute to the overall costs of your project 

We can’t support the full costs of a project. We usually expect at least 10% of your project income to come from a non-Arts Council or National Lottery source.  Take a look at our Budget help notes for more information.

You must allow adequate lead in time

We’ll expect to see sufficient time built into your project to deliver the work effectively. This is particularly important when it comes to any promotional, audience development or outreach work.  

You’ll need to consider the time you’ll need to develop your application as well as the time it takes us to process and make a decision.

• Small Create – up to £10,000
• Large Create - £10,001 - £50,000

Please note the maximum percentage of your total eligible project costs that we can fund is 90% - to find out more about completing your budget, eligible costs and artist fees please click here. 

In exceptional circumstances, organisations can apply for up to £100,000 by prior agreement with your Development Officer. Contact development@arts.wales if you need to find out who your Development Officer is. 

In the case of Festivals, you would need to be able to demonstrate that your project has year-round engagement opportunities for artists or audiences, commissions new work, has an international profile, nurtures new Welsh talent and unheard voices.

For other organisations wishing to apply for up to £100,000 you’ll need to demonstrate that you have clear partnerships, that your proposal has National significance, involves the creation or touring of work and the potential to impact communities in an innovative and imaginative way.

There are no deadlines for Small Create, but you need to allow a minimum of eight working weeks between the date you submit your application and the date you want to start your project.

There are set deadlines for Large Create applications. You need to allow a minimum of ten working weeks between the deadline date and when your project starts. 

• 8 May 2024
• 21 August 2024
• 9 October 2024
• 15 January 2025

All deadlines are 5pm on the dates stated.

Please note, there will be targeted funding opportunities linked to some of these deadlines. The targeted funding opportunities will help support a specific art form, programme of work or help us meet a strategic need or gap. More information will be published in due course.

Please note: We can’t fund projects that are already happening. So we won’t accept your application if your project’s start date comes before we’ve had the opportunity to assess your application.

Applications must be complete. We won’t accept further supporting information after you’ve submitted your application (unless we request it as part of the application process). To find out more about what happens to your application when you submit it please click here for the application process.

Applications will be assessed against all the following criteria: 

• The quality, strength and innovation of the artistic proposal and make-up of the creative team – we expect to see appropriately paid opportunities for freelance creatives, makers and individual artists.
  
  If your application is for training/professional development or business development/re-modelling - or is a part of the application - this should explain the quality and appropriateness of those providing skills and expertise. Consider the relevance of training to your practice or organisation’s work as well as how the skills being developed will benefit the wider sector in Wales.
• The strength of the proposal in supporting us to meet our corporate priorities around equalities, diversity, the Welsh language, climate justice, nurturing creative talent and / or promoting the sustainability and resilience of the sector.
• The potential impact of the project both now and in the future, and its benefit to others, in relation to those underrepresented in our work and our funding.
• The quality of the relationships or partnerships in place or being developed to support the realisation of the project.
• The strength of the project management and financial plans in place to deliver the project and ensure public funds are used appropriately.

Within these criteria we’ll also consider geographical ‘spread’ of proposed activity as part of our decision making

You can find a template of the application form in the Key Documents section below.

We allow you to submit additional attachments to support your application, please click here for further information.

Arts Council of Wales makes information available in large print, braille, audio, Easy Read and British Sign Language. We’ll also try to provide information in languages other than Welsh or English on request. 

If you need access support, you can find out more about what we can do and how to arrange it here. 

If you’ve read this information and still have a question, first check the FAQs as it might be answered there. If you need further information, then email your query to grants@arts.wales. Or call 03301 242733