Culture funding

Bank of Ideas funding

This initiative is now open for 2025 applications. The Bank of Ideas is run through participatory budgeting, which means that residents decide how public funds are used in their area. Individuals and groups can submit their creative idea for funding and the people of Belfast vote for projects they want to support at a voting event. 

How it works

Do you have an idea for something creative you’d like to make happen in your local area? It could be an interest you’d like to share, something you’d like to change with the help of your neighbours, or any fun activity that brings people together. You can submit your idea which will be presented at a public voting day and the winning ideas will get awarded up to £2,000 to make it happen. 

Lots of things are creative including recycling, baking, walking, stamp collecting, gardening, skateboarding, sewing, cutting hair and telling stories. 

The overall Bank of Ideas funding pot is £50,000, which will be divided evenly between North, South, East and West Belfast, and the city centre.

Key details

• A minimum of 25 projects will be funded, receiving up to £2,000
• There is an application form to complete with information on your idea
• There will be a final celebration event bringing together all projects in December 2025.

How to apply

To find out more information, the application criteria and to make an application, go to Bank of Ideas (link opens in a new window).

Information and idea-generating workshops

There are information and idea-generating sessions in Belfast where you can come along and find out how to develop your idea and to get help with completing the application. To book a place at one of our sessions, go to Bank of Ideas event page. 

Key application dates:

• Applications open on Wednesday 26 March 2025
• Applications close on Wednesday 14 May 2025 at 5pm
• Present ideas at a public voting day on Sunday 29 June 2025
• Successful projects to deliver between mid-July 2025 and end of November 2025
• Celebration event in December 2025. 

Street Art Mentorship Bursaries

We’ve launched a new Street Art Mentorship programme in partnership with Seedhead Arts, offering a meaningful developmental opportunity to selected, established street artists in the city.

We are offering six bursaries of £2,000 to Belfast street artists. The nature of this award is to enable street artists to learn new skills or techniques from a mentor of their choosing, in a one-to-one capacity.

The development of these skills can extend the commercial and artistic opportunities for street artists, in turn enhancing the wider sector and further contributing to the cultural animation within the city through street art.

Who can apply?

To be eligible for this award you must:

• be a professional street artist
• be a resident in Belfast or be able to demonstrate a tangible contribution to the Belfast street art scene
• be able to demonstrate at least three, large-scale mural commissions (10m sq and above)
• have been invited to paint in at least one festival outside of Northern Ireland

How to apply?

We have appointed Seedhead Arts to manage and deliver the programme in partnership with Belfast City Council. To find out more, or to request an application, please email [email protected].

The closing date for submissions is 12 noon on Monday 12 May.
 

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)

Four-year festival and events grants awarded in 2024

In April 2024, we awarded four-year grants to the four festivals in this table. Each link opens in a new window.

Two-year festival and events grants awarded in 2024 

In April 2024, we awarded two-year grants to the 15 festivals in this table. Each link opens in a new window.

Four-year arts and heritage grants awarded in 2024

In April 2024, we awarded grants to the ten arts and heritage organisations in this table. Each link opens in a new window.

If you would like information on recent funding awards, case studies of recipients or our guide on cultural funding, contact us by email: [email protected]

Two-year arts and heritage grants awarded in 2024

In April 2024, we awarded two-year grants to the 30 arts and heritage organisations in this table. Each link opens in a new window.