Culture funding

Small Grants 2026-2027

Currently we have two small grants open to applications from the cultural sector:

• Community Festivals Fund closes on Friday 9 January 2026 at 12 noon
• Arts and Heritage Project Grant closes on Friday 9 January 2026 at 12 noon

To read about these grants, go to Grants and funding. 

Bank of Ideas 2025 funding

We held a voting day on 29 June in City Hall with a marketplace of creative and colourful ideas. Groups and individuals presented their ideas to the public. Over 1,000 votes were cast. Through our Bank of Ideas scheme, we will fund these 34 projects:

• Connecting the Deaf Community - Building the Bridge by Anthony Sinclair
• Daytime Disco by Safe Night NI
• Girls' Rock School NI: Weekend Rock Camp Girls' by Rock School NI
• Irish for Artists by PS² and Eimear Nic Roibeaird
• Queer Shed Bhéal Feirste by Aoife de Bhál
• South African Culture Celebration by Miss Kay's Health and Wellbeing Projects
• Enchanted Storytime by Dark Forest Theatre
• Critical Mass Bunk Bed Bicycle by Kieran McManus
• Sourbakes: Bakers Crit by Dónal McCaughey
• Joyful Beginner Sticker-making Workshop by Amber Jennings
• Playwriting Intensive by Belfast Playwrights
• Anyone Can… by Betsy Scullion
• Women of Colour Market by Stacy Aluebhosele
• Park Play - Outdoor Theatre workshops for young people by Green Room Productions NI
• Say Hi to Your Neighbours by Fiona Fitwi
• The Art Club by Boom Clap Play
• Larder East Craft Club by Olivia Dee and The Larder
• Dance: Rhythm of life - Free Bollywood, Bhangra and Latin workshops by Binder Tohani
• Viva Mexico: A celebration of Mexican culture in Belfast by Julia Monjaras Feria
• Yoga for all by Martina Klapkova, the Roma Support Hub
• Cultural Sewing by Happy Women's Group
• We Are Belfast: Still We Rise – A Children’s Book of Belonging by Still I Rise Diversity Storytelling
• Moon Gardens and Meadows by Ulster Wildlife Meadow Ladies and Community Garden
• Clonard Community Garden by Clonard Neighbourhood Development Partnership
• Parent and Child Music Fundamentals by Laoise Curtis
• It's A Jungle Out There! by Spectrum Centre
• Retreat Treat - Yoga and Wellbeing by Gill Henderson
• Wear your Voice by David McLearnon and Youth Initiatives Crosslinks
• The People's Pages: Sharing 'Our Belfast' by The Duncairn Writers' Hub
• Creative Self-expression and Storytelling workshops by Corrina Askin
• North Belfast All Ability Olympics by Ashton Centre
• Safe, Strong and Seen by Full Circle Martial Arts
• The Woodland of Wonder by Ligoniel Improvement Association
• Sign and Share: The Makaton Way by Lower Oldpark Community Association

Projects will run from August 2025 to 30 November 2025.

Cultural Multi-Annual Grants

Our Cultural Multi-Annual Grants scheme offers two funding strands. The funding is available for two or four years. Under this scheme, we offer two funding strands which are available for two or four years.

This scheme includes:

Festivals and events grants

For festivals and events:

• four-year (2024-2028)
• two-year (2024-2026)

Arts and heritage grants

For  arts and heritage organisations with a year-round programme of activity:

• two-year (2024-2026)
• four-year (2024-2028)

Street Art Mentorship Bursaries

Our Street Art Mentorship Bursaries closed to applications in May 2025.

Previous grants awarded

We have kept a record of the previous grants that we have awarded.