May: funding opportunities & competitions

Goldsmiths’ Foundation – Inaugural Grants Programme

Regular Grants (inaugural grants) of between £30,000 and £50,000 available to support organisations that focus on vocational skills and training, working at the intersection of creativity and social change. For this inaugural grant funding round they are funding organisations working in the following areas:

• Craft

• Design

• Art

• Architecture

There will be funding rounds throughout the year with deadlines published on the Foundation's website. Deadline: 5 May. More info here. 

Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival - Artist Commissions

Artists based in Scotland can apply for funding to create new work exploring mental health as part of the 2025 Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival (SMHAF). SMHAF commissions support creatives working in disciplines such as music, film, visual art or performance. In 2025, artists are invited to respond to the theme 'Comfort & Disturb', which focuses on the dual nature of art to soothe and unsettle. Four commissions will be awarded, with each successful applicant receiving £1,000. Applicants must be based in Scotland and working in a recognised artistic discipline. The project must relate to the theme and explore mental health in a creative and thoughtful way. Deadline: 9 May 2025 (18:00). More info here. 

Hinrichsen Foundation

Multi-year grant partnerships for organisations and charities across the UK for projects and activities that focus on the performance, commissioning, or recording of contemporary music. Proposals should involve thoughtful collaboration between composers, musicians, and those responsible for making the project public. Applications that take artistic risks, promote diversity, and consider sustainability are encouraged. Deadline: 18 May 2025. More info here.

QEST and Heritage Crafts Sustainability Award

Recognises craftspeople across the UK who have taken significant steps to reduce their environmental impact and improve the sustainability of their craft practices. Anyone can nominate a craftsperson or micro-business, including self-nominations, for the QEST and Heritage Crafts Sustainability Award. Each winner will receive a £1,000 prize and an invitation to attend a prestigious awards ceremony hosted by Heritage Crafts. Deadline: Tuesday 1 July. More info here. 

Aesthetica Creative Writing Award

Open to Poetry and Short Fiction submissions on any theme, however, they are particularly interested in works that reflect upon our ever changing world. The winners in each category will receive a £2,500 cash prize, with a total prize fund of £5,000. Additionally, selected entries will be published in the Aesthetica Creative Writing Annual, providing further exposure for entrants. Deadline: 31 August. More info here.

The Cruach Trust

Grants of up to £2,000 are available to small Scottish charitable organisations to support environmental, community and music projects. Applications are considered once a year and the next deadline for applications is 12 September 2025. Find out more here.

Michael Tippett Musical Foundation

Grants of between £500 and £3,000 for groups across the UK to support the following objectives:

• To award grants to support the development of group music-making especially involving young people, with composing central to the project.

• To support the performance or recording of works by Michael Tippet.

Deadline: 30 Sept. More info here.

Maker Relief Fund

The Maker Relief Fund is offering grants to UK-based professional craftspeople facing financial hardship. Grants of £1,000 will be awarded to 50 eligible applicants. Deadline: October 2025. More info here.

Music for All Community Project Funding Programme

Grants are available to community groups, schools and individuals under a number of different categories, each with their own criteria and award amounts. More info here.

BFI National Lottery Creative Challenge Fund

Grants between £12,000 and £150,000 for funding which aims to support projects in feature film and narrative immersive media, including narrative, documentary and animation. The fund is designed to address challenges within the screen industry such as underrepresentation of certain genres, lack of early career producer opportunities and limited support for scalable projects with broad audience potential. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis but must be submitted at least 16 weeks before the planned start of activity. All funded work must be completed by 31 March 2026. More info here.