Need some help with fundraising for a creative project?

We have some practical ideas and opportunities below that might help you get started, from our Fundraising Manager Yvonne.

We aren’t able to help write an application for you, we hope this support and signposting to opportunities will set you on your way to success.

CBC’s Fundraising Scheme 2024

CBC’s initiative to boost fundraising for arts and culture activities in the region was back for a 3rd year.

Thanks to the community groups and creatives who made up our cohort for 2024. Also to the fabulous Amy Dalton Hardy for her insights and experience https://www.amydaltonhardy.co.uk/

Wolverhampton Film Festival,  stART,     URJA C.I.C, More Mascots Please CIC, Progressive Play, Unique Movez Dance Collective CIC,  THIA CIC, Creative Cohesion CIC, Migrant Empowerment Group,  Walsall Society of Artists, Willenhall Lock Stock, Sgt Pepper's Friends, Misfits Music, Breakthru,    Plasma of Hope,   Riverside House Stourbridge,   Black HeritageWalks Network CIC

Who is the scheme for?

Any community group, small CIC, charity, festival/event or creative organisation who wants to develop creative or cultural ideas/projects in the Black Country (Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall or Wolverhampton).

Timescale

The Scheme will be back in 2025 so watch this space for information.

Black Country Funding Network for Arts and Culture

Are you looking for some help with any aspect of funding or fundraising? Would you like to connect with others in the region? or hear about funding opportunities?

CBC has a free funding network for anyone in the arts and culture sector in the Black Country. The network can connect fundraisers, or anyone who needs to fundraise, also provide the space, dialogue, support and opportunities for future partnership working. We aim for a more joined up approach – complementary not competitive – and avoid duplicating funding requests.

We share funding opportunities through regular emails.

We also host events that offer tips and advice for successful fundraising.

The network was initially supported by Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy.

CBC Funding Network Event - Access Support for Funding Applications – catch up with our online session

Did you know that some funders provide support to make their application process more accessible? 
Including Arts Council England (ACE), National Lottery Heritage Fund and Paul Hamlyn Foundation
If you’re D/deaf, disabled or have a physical or mental health condition, or neurodivergence that makes funding applications, information and systems less accessible to you there is support available. 
This support can include help with reading their guidance or making an application.
Have a look at our online session and pdf which highlights some of the funders that provide access support and explains the process for getting that support. (Although the live session included BSL interpreters they are not seen on the video, however captions can be enabled)

Session delivered by Jenny from Curiosity Productions, who has supported many creatives to get the support they need. 

Funding Surgeries

Do you have a question? Or need some advice in person?

Why not pop along to one of our new funding surgeries? We’ll have more dates coming up in 2025 soon.

Please email yvonne@creativeblackcountry.co.uk to find out dates and venues and book a place for a half an hour slot.

Fundraising Tips:

Are you new to fundraising? Maybe you’ve received some seed money through CBC’s Creative Communities and wondering where to go next?

We’ve put together some tips for where to look for funding and where you might get some extra help. Download our tips here as a pdf.

Creative Black Country is a Creative People and Places Programme primarily funded by Arts Council, England. CBC has to raise the remaining funding from elsewhere in order to make our work with communities possible. We have a Fundraising Manager, Yvonne Gregory, whose role it is to maintain and develop relationships with funders and supporters.

Yvonne’s remit also goes wider to help support the arts and culture sector to attract more funding into the region.