To secure funding, your full application must demonstrate how your organisation meets at least two of the following core objectives from the Council’s Our Direction 2028 and East Suffolk’s Cultural Strategy:

• Thriving Economy: Supporting the viability of East Suffolk towns, boosting the visitor economy, and actively employing or commissioning local artists and freelancers.
• Tackling Inequalities: Improving local health and well-being through inclusive cultural participation.
• Children and Young People: Supporting active participation in the arts and building creative career pathways for young people.
• Environmental Impact: Connecting residents with nature and taking direct action to reduce your organisation’s carbon footprint.

• Funding Amount: Grants range from a minimum of £10,000 to a maximum of £30,000.
• Turnover Cap: The total award is strictly limited to a maximum of 20% of your organisation’s annual turnover.
• Funding Window: The grant covers a 12-month delivery period running from 1st October 2026 to 30th September 2027.

This grant exclusively funds the essential “behind-the-scenes” costs required to keep your organisation running so you can deliver your vital community programmes:

• Staffing: Salaries for core administrative, finance, and management roles, plus recruitment and professional training.
• Premises: Rent, business rates, insurance, utilities (heating and electricity), and building maintenance.
• Office Operations: IT hardware, software, internet connectivity, phone lines, and general stationery.
• Governance & Finance: Audit fees, accountancy, bookkeeping, bank charges, and legal compliance costs.

You will be required to identify how the core fund will be allocated in advance of being awarded.

To apply, your organisation can use the Expression of Interest (EOI) stage to confirm that it meets all of the following requirements:

• Legal Status: A registered not-for-profit organisation (e.g., Charity, CIC, CIO, or Company Limited by Guarantee) focused on delivering creative activities like visual arts, music, dance, or theatre.
• East Suffolk Based: Registered and established in East Suffolk for at least two years.
• Delivery Model: Operates a physical, high-street cultural venue open to the public OR delivers a specialist, district-wide arts initiative (such as music or creative health).
• Employment: Directly employs staff or regularly commissions East Suffolk-based creative freelancers.
• Funding Cap: Does not currently receive more than £150,000 per annum from East Suffolk Council or Arts Council England.

Please note that Museums and Heritage organisations are not eligible to apply for this specific core operating fund.

Please ensure that you have read the Guidance for Expression of Interest and Full Application before submitting your form.

All applications must be completed digitally via a My East Suffolk online account. A blank Microsoft Word template is available from the grants team to draft your application offline before pasting it into the system.

Stage 1: Expression of Interest (EOI)

• The Process: A quick preliminary check to confirm your basic eligibility and strategic alignment. Council officers can provide informal advice about your eligibility during this stage.
• The Outcome: A Grants Officer will review the EOI and notify you of the result within 10 working days. If successful, you will be formally invited to Stage 2.

Decisions at this stage are final and cannot be appealed.

Stage 2: Full Application (By Invitation Only)

• The Process: A comprehensive deep dive into your programming, finances, governance, and business resilience. You will be required to submit formal supporting documents, including your governing document, annual accounts, business plan, and safeguarding policies.
• The Assessment: Applications are scored from 0 to 4 across the strategic pillars. A grant panel makes final funding decisions based on quality scores, available budget, and geographic spread across the district.

Decisions at this stage are final and cannot be appealed.

• 29 June 2026: Fund Opens for Stage 1 EOI submissions.
• 13 July 2026 (by 11.59 pm): Stage 1 EOI Deadline.
• 20 July 2026: Stage 2 Full Application Window Opens (Invitation Only).
• 23rd August 2026: (by 11.59pm) Stage 2 Full Application Deadline.