Funding and support for culture, arts and heritage
Many local and national funders support cultural, artistic and heritage activities in Birmingham. Visit their websites for information.
Culture, arts and heritage funders
| Organisation | What is offered |
|---|---|
| Arts Council England | The national development agency for creativity and culture. National Lottery Project Grants is its open access programme for arts, libraries and museums projects. |
| British Film Institute (BFI) | A cultural charity and National Lottery distributor. It is the UK's lead organisation for supporting filmmakers and the screen industry in the UK and abroad. |
| Get Grants | Practical support, advice and information for grant fundraisers and grant makers. Their Get Grants Funding Finder is a free resource for grant fundraisers with information on hundreds of grant funders, including what they fund, how much they give, how to apply and Get Grants top tips. |
| Heart of England Community Foundation | An independent grant-making foundation for the West Midlands and Warwickshire. |
| PRS Foundation | A funder of new music and talent development supporting established musicians, emerging talent, songwriters, bands, composers, organisations, promoters and other music creators from all backgrounds. PRS Foundation has many initiatives that provide financial support for the creation, performance, or promotion of outstanding music. |
| National Lottery Heritage Fund in England, Midlands and East | The National Lottery is the largest funder for the UK's heritage. Their vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. |
Support for culture, arts and heritage
| Organisation | What is offered |
|---|---|
| a-n The Artists Information Company | Membership organisation campaigning for fair pay, intellectual property and artists' voices. |
| Artists' Union England | Independent trade union for visual and applied artists and artists with a socially engaged practice. |
| Arts Council England | A range of resources from across the creative and cultural sector to support everyone working in creativity and culture. |
| The Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union (BECTU) | Trade union for non-performance staff in live events, broadcasting, film and cinema, digital media, independent production, leisure, theatre and the arts. |
| Contemporary Visual Arts Network West Midlands (CVAN WM) | DASH hosts CVAN WM, which is part of a vibrant national network (CVAN) that leads a collective agenda for policy change across the visual arts. The local network covers the counties of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire. |
| Equity | Performing arts and entertainment trade union for actors, comedians, dancers, designers, directors, puppeteers, singers, stage managers, variety performers and voice artists. |
| The Independent Theatre Council (ITC) | Management association and membership body for performing arts venues, companies and producers across the UK. |
| Museums Association | Membership organisation advocating for and supporting museums and everyone who works in and with them. |
| The Musicians' Union | Trade union for all musicians across the UK working in all sectors of the music business. |
| The Society of Authors | Trade union for all types of writers, illustrators and literary translators, at all stages of their careers. |
| UK Theatre | Membership organisation for theatre producers, managers, owners and operators. |
| Writers' Guild | Trade union for writers in TV, film, theatre, radio, books, comedy, poetry, animation and videogames. |
Page last updated: 24 June 2026
