4 Grants Open March 2026
Every month we round up the grants that arts and cultural organisations should have on their radar, with the funder context, what they're actually looking for, and one honest tip for your application.
Here's what's open this month. All four have March deadlines, so don't sit on these.
Jerwood Foundation
WHO ARE THEY?
Jerwood is one of the UK's most respected independent arts funders. Originally founded in 1977, it merged with Jerwood Arts in 2024 to form a single foundation with an ambition to award up to £2 million annually to arts organisations across the UK. They have a track record of supporting everything from emerging dance companies to major national institutions, and they genuinely value organisations at all stages of development, not just the big names.
WHAT ARE THEY FUNDING?
This round supports UK-based organisations working to make art accessible for public benefit and to develop emerging talent. There's no fixed minimum or maximum grant, though most awards sit below £100,000. Your project must start between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027, so this is for activity you're planning for later this year or early next.
DEADLINE: 18 March 2026 at 2pm
APPLY: jerwood.org/funding
ALIRA ARTS TIP
Along with the application, Jerwood ask for a one-page project summary, a budget, and a fundraising plan, all in a single document. Keep the summary tight and specific. Don't try to summarise everything your organisation does, focus on this project, this impact, this audience. A clear start date and realistic budget will go a long way.
John Feeney Charitable Trust
WHO ARE THEY?
Established in 1905 following the will of Birmingham newspaper proprietor John Feeney, this trust has been funding Birmingham's arts, heritage and open spaces for over 120 years. It's small, long-standing, and deeply connected to the city. They meet just once a year to make decisions, which makes this one of the most time-critical deadlines in the Birmingham arts calendar.
WHAT ARE THEY FUNDING?
Grants of £500–£2,000 for charitable organisations based in or with a working presence in Birmingham, covering arts projects, heritage, open spaces, and arts commissions. They have a special interest in new work and in projects that reflect Birmingham's culturally diverse history. Larger grants are occasionally available for commissions, where they typically want to be the primary commissioner rather than one of many funders.
DEADLINE: 31 March 2026
APPLY: feeneytrust.org.uk/apply
ALIRA ARTS TIP
Feeney are explicit that they want to fund things that wouldn't otherwise happen. Don't frame your application as 'this will help us continue our work', frame it as 'without this grant, this specific thing would not exist.' If you're a Birmingham organisation doing work that is genuinely community-rooted and artistically ambitious, this funder is well worth the application.
Victoria Wood Foundation
WHO ARE THEY?
Set up in 2016 following the death of comedian, writer and performer Victoria Wood CBE, this foundation is run by her former friends and colleagues who are personally invested in keeping her legacy alive through the arts. It's a small, friendly funder with a genuine love of community arts — exactly the kind of funder who reads applications carefully and funds on the basis of passion and impact, not just organisational size.
WHAT ARE THEY FUNDING?
Grants of up to £5,000 for UK registered charities working in theatre, music and dance in the community. They particularly favour organisations in areas connected to Victoria Wood's life, Manchester, Bury, Prestwich, Rochdale, Birmingham, and London, but support work across the UK. The trustees meet in July and December; to be considered for the July meeting you'll want to apply well before the end of June.
DEADLINE: Apply soon, they do not have an official close date
APPLY: victoriawoodfoundation.org.uk
ALIRA ARTS TIP
Applications go via the contact form on their website, there's no lengthy form to fill in. Write warmly and personally. This is a foundation run by people who knew Victoria Wood, so they respond to genuine passion for community arts and accessible storytelling. If your work has a connection to the communities she loved, say so clearly and specifically.
ACE Supporting Grassroots Music
WHO ARE THEY?
Supporting Grassroots Music is jointly funded by Arts Council England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and was designed specifically to address the sustainability crisis facing the grassroots music sector. It has been running since 2019 and has expanded significantly, originally focused on live music venues, it now covers rehearsal studios, recording studios, festivals, promoters and sector bodies too. It operates on a rolling monthly basis with 10 rounds per year, making it one of the most accessible and regularly available funds for music organisations in England.
WHAT ARE THEY FUNDING?
Grants of £1,000–£40,000 for projects lasting up to three years, for organisations based in England working in the grassroots music sector. This includes live and electronic music venues, music festivals, recording studios, rehearsal spaces, independent promoters, and music sector bodies. Projects must include some element of live programming or participatory activity that directly benefits grassroots artists or music professionals. All genres are welcome, from jazz and folk to grime, metal, diasporic music and beyond. ACE also note they will prioritise organisations that have not previously received support from this fund.
DEADLINE: 29 March 2026 (Round 8)
APPLY: artscouncil.org.uk/supporting-grassroots-music
ALIRA ARTS TIP
Round 8 is the last round where applications are submitted by email using downloadable Word forms, from Round 9 onwards it moves to ACE's updated Grantium portal. If you're ready to apply now, the email route is actually simpler. Download Form A and Form B from the ACE website, get your budget tool completed so it balances, and submit to supportinggrassrootsmusic@artscouncil.org.uk before 29 March. Don't leave it to the last day.
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