Creative Steps focuses on those who identify as being ethnically and culturally diverse, have experienced racism or discrimination, and Deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent people.
Research shows that our funding is failing to reach people from these backgrounds and lived experiences. We want to reach or support culturally and ethnically diverse people and Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people, whether as artists, as staff of organisations, as organisations which primarily support underrepresented communities or in decision-making roles. Creative Steps aims to overcome some of the obstacles that people face and to support a range of creative proposals.
Andrew Ogun, Agent for Change at Arts Council of Wales said:
“We’re delighted to be relaunching Creative Steps for Organisations and Individuals, and we hope this is a continuation of our work with widening our engagement with communities that need our resources and our platform the most. By focusing on people from ethnically and culturally diverse backgrounds, deaf and disabled people, neurodivergent people and people experiencing discrimination, we hope that Creative Steps can be a catalyst for positive social change in Wales, making sure that organisations and individuals feel supported on their creative journeys.”
Through Creative Steps, we aim to be more flexible in the way we help you with your ideas and we can also guide you through the application process. We can also be more flexible about the type of proposal we fund and how much funding we can offer.The fund can also cover costs such as your own time, or costs for childcare or caregiving responsibilities.
This will be a rolling programme, with applications accepted on the last day of each month. The first closing date will be 31 December 2022. Creative Steps is open for applications of between £500 and £250,000 and has been made possible thanks to the money raised each week by National Lottery players for good causes.
For more information, and details of how to apply or to talk to us to see if the fund is for you, click below