Birmingham council opens £400,000 arts and culture grant scheme

Birmingham City Council has opened a £400,000 grant programme for arts and culture organisations across the city.

The initiative, called Together on Culture, builds on the council’s commitment to invest in cultural priorities identified by local partners, having already allocated more than £250,000 to projects in the 2026/27 financial year. It aims to raise the visibility of creative work in neighbourhoods and to draw visitors to high-profile events that generate economic and social benefits.

Funding streams and amounts

Three distinct streams make up the funding pot. The Local Cultural Improvement Fund and the Local Cultural Event Fund each have £100,000 available, with individual awards capped at £10,000. The former supports organisations delivering projects that follow existing local cultural plans, while the latter backs events that use local spaces to bring residents together and celebrate community creativity.

The Magnets and Moonshots Open Call Fund provides the remaining £200,000 for high-profile cultural activities that attract visitors and enhance Birmingham’s reputation. Grants under this stream range from £10,000 to £50,000, allocated in proportion to the scale of the proposed event.

How to apply

Applicants must submit their proposals by 13:00 on 6 November 2026. To help potential grant-seekers, the council’s Culture Development Service is running a webinar on 7 October 2026 at 12:00 and again at 17:00. Interested parties can register by emailing art.grants@birmingham.gov.uk with their name, organisation, contact number and the session they wish to attend.

The council will provide the webinar material to anyone unable to join live, and further support is available via the same email address. Cllr Deborah Harries said the funding will help bring Birmingham’s wealth of creativity to life in local communities and attract residents and visitors to new, exciting cultural experiences.