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Arts Council England application review

We review your finished application and send you back clear, practical feedback before you submit. For artists, charities, CICs and CIOs who want a second, expert set of eyes on it before it goes to Arts Council England.

We do not support Developing Your Creative Practice (DYCP) applications. Our review covers National Lottery Project Grants and other ACE organisational funding streams. Alira Arts is an independent consultancy, not affiliated with or endorsed by Arts Council England.

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Before you book

YOUR APPLICATION MUST BE

Finalised

This is a pre-submission review, not a drafting service.

SENT AS

A Word document (.docx)

Not a PDF, screenshots or the portal.

AND

Complete in full

Every section filled in, including your budget.

Individual artists and creators

Across all art forms: visual arts, theatre, music, dance, literature and combined arts. Whether you are funding a new project, a performance, an exhibition or community engagement work, we help you strengthen the application you have already written.

Organisations, charities, CICs and CIOs

Theatre companies, galleries, festivals, community arts groups and other non-profits. Organisational applications tend to involve more partners and bigger budgets, and we adjust our feedback to match.

What our service includes

One-to-one consultation

A 20-minute video call with our lead consultant to discuss your project and where you want feedback.

Detailed application review

Every section read for clarity, completeness and fit with Arts Council guidelines, including budget checks.

Written feedback report

Strengths praised, weaknesses explained, and practical suggestions for each key section.

Tailored advice

Adjusted to your fund, your art form and your experience, first-time applicant or seasoned grant recipient.

What we won't do

We won't rewrite your application for you. We give clear, honest feedback and practical suggestions so you can strengthen it

yourself.Need help writing the application itself? That is a different kind of support. Get in touch and we will talk through what you need.

How the review works

STEP 01

Book your slot

At least one week ahead

STEP 02

Submit your final application

Finished Word document (.docx) only

STEP 03

Initial call

20-minute consultation

STEP 04

Full application review

Checked for clarity, completeness and fit with ACE criteria

STEP 05

Written feedback report

Delivered by the agreed date

AFTER YOUR REPORT

Your next step

INCLUDED

Revise and resubmit

Make your changes and send back the same application. Your second review is included.

ADDITIONAL REVIEW

Need another look?

Further reviews of the same application are £150 each.

ONE PACKAGE

£230 covers the initial call, full application review, written feedback report and one second review.

What's included in the package

Applying for over £30,000? These bids vary a lot in scope, so we offer a tailored quote rather than a fixed fee.

Ask for a quote
20-minute initial consultation with your consultant
Full review of your finished draft application
Written feedback report with clear, actionable recommendations
A second review included, if you revise the same application after your first report
Further reviews of the same application: £150 each

Missed this round? Join the priority waitlist.

We limit the number of review slots each round so every application gets proper attention. Join the list and we will tell you when the next round opens.

Join our waiting list

Questions we are asked

  • A pre-submission review of your finished Arts Council England application. We check it against ACE's assessment criteria and send you a written feedback report with practical suggestions, plus a 20-minute initial call to talk through your project.

  • Individual artists and arts and culture organisations in the UK applying to Arts Council England for National Lottery Project Grants, whether you're a solo creative or part of a charity, CIC or CIO. It suits first-time applicants and people who've applied before. We don't currently support DYCP applications.

  • It needs to be finished. Every section filled in, including the budget, and sent to us as a Word document. We can't work with drafts, partial applications, or anything sent in another format, and we'll decline reviews that don't meet this.

  • At least one week before your appointment, so we have time to plan around your submission deadline. We'd also suggest booking two to three weeks before your actual ACE deadline, to leave room to make changes after our feedback.

  • £230 for the full package: the initial call, the review, the written report, and a second review if you revise the same application afterwards. A third review of the same application is £150. For applications over £30,000, we provide a tailored quote.

  • No, we do not currently support Developing Your Creative Practice (DYCP) applications. Our expertise and service focus is on National Lottery Project Grants and other Arts Council England organisational funding streams.

  • No. We review and give feedback on the application you've written. If you need help writing the application itself, get in touch and we can talk through what you need.


  • Book your consultation for a Monday to ensure you receive your written feedback by Friday the same week. This gives you ample time to revise your application before the ACE deadline.

    We recommend booking at least 2-3 weeks before your final submission deadline to allow time for revisions.

  • Professional feedback can significantly strengthen your bid before submission.

  • While we cannot guarantee that Arts Council England will fund your project (no one can, as final decisions rest with ACE's assessors), our service will significantly strengthen your application.

    Arts Council funding is highly competitive and only around 10–20% of applications are successful on average. Our expert feedback helps you avoid common pitfalls and present your project in the best possible light, which maximises your chances of success.

    Many applicants make simple mistakes or fail to clearly meet ACE's criteria; we help you correct those issues so your application stands out. Ultimately, we aim to give you the best shot at securing funding, but the outcome is decided by the Arts Council.

  • Improving clarity, measurable outcomes and alignment to funding priorities are key areas we address.

  • Yes, we specialise in reviewing National Lottery Project Grants funding applications.