Creative Foundations Fund: Guidance for applicants

About the Open Call

Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture, working to ensure England is a country where creativity flourishes and everyone has access to high-quality cultural experiences. The Creative Foundations Fund (CFF) is a major government investment supporting arts and cultural organisations across England to resolve urgent issues with their estates. This open-access capital fund supports creative and cultural organisations in England in revitalising, restoring, retrofitting, or renewing cultural assets, including urgent work which prevents organisations from effectively delivering work for the public. The fund is split into two strands: Strand 1 for grants of £100,000 up to and including £1 million, and Strand 2 for grants above £1 million up to and including £10 million. It is funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Arts Council England. The fund supports capital expenditure for equipment projects (moveable furniture, equipment, vehicles – Strand 1 only), building projects (work to existing cultural buildings or expanded cultural facilities within an existing site – Strands 1 & 2), and combined building and equipment projects. Projects must contribute to the fund's aims, meet diverse community needs, apply the four Let’s Create Investment Principles, and demonstrate financial viability. Specific activities supported include upgrading portable equipment (e.g., technical, digital, accessibility tools, low-emission vehicles), building works (e.g., roofs, walls, windows, energy efficiency, floodproofing, acoustic treatment, internal refurbishments, seating), essential building services (e.g., HVAC, energy supplies, lifts, fire safety, IT infrastructure, sustainable technologies), addressing equality and accessibility issues (e.g., ramped access, Changing Places facilities, signage), and associated project costs (e.g., professional fees, time-limited costs, irrecoverable VAT). Activities not supported include non-capital expenditure, building projects not meeting ownership requirements, adaptive reuse of existing buildings for cultural purposes, new cultural buildings, increased costs for ongoing construction, training, replacements under warranty/insurance, purchase of land/buildings, projects with no public benefit, pre-acceptance costs, projects not meeting timelines, costs covered by other income, research (including RIBA Work Stage 3 development), routine maintenance, assets for sale, general running costs, software (e.g., CRM), commercial income-generating activities, and statutory duties. Eligibility requires applicants to be not-for-profit cultural organisations based in England, demonstrating cultural primary aims through governance documents and having delivered cultural activity in the last 12 months. Eligible types include charities, CIOs, charitable companies, CICs, non-profit distributing limited companies, statutory bodies, and charitable community benefit societies. Museums and libraries are not eligible as they have dedicated funding programmes (MEND and LIF). Partnership applications are accepted, with one lead organisation, and all partners must meet the not-for-profit eligibility. Minimum partnership funding is required: 5% for Strand 1 grants (£100,000-£1 million), 10% for Strand 2 grants (£1,000,001-£5 million), and 15% for Strand 2 grants (above £5 million). This funding must be confirmed before project commencement. Building projects have additional requirements for detailed drawings (minimum RIBA Work Stage 3 or equivalent) and specific leasehold/freehold ownership terms (e.g., registered and assignable lease of at least 10-30 years depending on grant size, no break or forfeiture on insolvency clauses). The aims of the fund are to increase the economic sustainability of cultural and creative organisations, decrease the risk and financial impact of cancelled events due to infrastructure failure, and grow audience engagement and access by underserved communities. Expected outcomes include improved value for money, reduced loss of high-quality cultural work, more sustainable financial and business models, and improved energy efficiency and environmental performance.

What is Offered

Grants of £100,000 up to £1 million (Strand 1) and above £1 million up to £10 million (Strand 2) are available for capital expenditure. The fund aims to support urgent, business-critical works, including equipment projects and building works to existing cultural buildings or expanded cultural facilities within an existing site.

Requirements

Eligible applicants are not-for-profit cultural organisations based in England, including charities, CICs, limited companies (non-profit distributing), and statutory bodies. Organisations must demonstrate cultural primary aims and activity in the last 12 months. Museums and libraries are not eligible. Minimum partnership funding is required: 5% for grants up to £1 million, 10% for grants £1-5 million, and 15% for grants above £5 million. Building projects have additional requirements including developed drawings (RIBA Work Stage 3 minimum) and property ownership/leasehold terms (e.g., registered and assignable lease of at least 10-30 years, no break or forfeiture on insolvency clauses).

How to Apply

Applicants must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) first. If invited, a full application must be submitted via the new mechanism, which opened on 19 September 2025. Detailed guidance for Strand 1 and Strand 2 is available on the Arts Council England website. The deadline for submitting a full application is noon on 31 October 2025.