If you're an organisation considering a funding application in our 2025 - 2026 round, you may find the following FAQs helpful.
- What do you mean by ‘organisation’?
- What do you mean by ‘social arts practice’?
- What artforms does the Cultural Bridge programme fund?
- What do you mean by ‘new’ and ‘established’ partnerships?
- What do you mean by the term ‘foster equity, diversity & inclusion’?
- What do you mean by ‘access costs’?
- Who is the matchmaking for and what can I expect from this process?
- If I applied previously and was unsuccessful, can I apply again?
- If I have already received Cultural Bridge funding, can I apply again?
- Can I apply with more than one partner?
- Can current Tier 1 partners add new partners as part of a Tier 2 application?
- Does Tier 1 activity need to be completed ahead of making a Tier 2 application?
- Are there any expected outputs or outcomes from the funded activity?
- Are partner organisations expected to have match or co-funding?
- How are funding decisions made?
- What type of delivery support will I receive from the programme leads?
What do you mean by organisation?
By organisation we mean a group of people working towards a common goal with a governing document. A governing document is a legal agreement that explains what your organisation is set up to do, and how it will operate, and it should cover the type of activity being applied for.
For example your organisation could be a charity, a registered voluntary association, a limited company (non-profit) or an unincorporated group/collective.
In Germany this could include e.V., gGmbH, gUG, Gbr or Künstler*innen-Kollektiv or Kultur-Initiative.
All organisations must have a bank account in the organisation’s name, with a minimum of two signatories (people allowed to sign cheques).
We cannot support individual artists through this fund.
What do you mean by social arts practice?
Social arts practice, also referred to as socially engaged practice or socially engaged art, focuses on social engagement, inviting collaboration with individuals, communities, and institutions in the creation of participatory art. It can include any artform which involves people and communities in debate, collaboration or social interaction.
Social arts practice aims to benefit a local area or society as a main outcome of the work, often over and above the artistic product, and the artworks can take any form that involves people as collaborators, co-producers, co-creators.
Cultural Bridge partnerships explore a wide range of themes, for example: youth work, inclusion, socio-political, health & wellbeing, migrant activism, feminism, rural and environmental. You can explore the current and previously funded partnerships via our website here.
What artforms does the Cultural Bridge programme fund?
Cultural Bridge funds cultural organisations working across all artforms including dance, theatre, literature, music, visual arts, creative media, outdoor, site-specific and others. Partner organisations do not have to be working in the same artform.
One of the key eligibility criteria for the fund is that social arts practice, working with communities, must be at the core of your organisation’s creative programme and/or practice.
What do you mean by ‘new’ and ‘established’ partnerships?
When we talk about ‘new’ partnerships (Tier 1) we are looking to support brand new connections between organisations in the UK and Germany who have not worked together previously. Organisations looking for a new partner can apply to participate in one of our matchmaking sessions to help find a connection.
When we talk about ‘established’ partnerships (Tier 2) we are looking to support organisations in the UK and Germany who have experience of working together previously and wish to develop their partnership further through co-delivery of a project. All Tier 2 project proposals must include direct engagement with communities. We will also ask you to tell us about your previous collaboration as part of your application.
What do you mean by the term ‘foster equity, diversity & inclusion’?
The Cultural Bridge programme is committed to promoting an equitable, diverse and inclusive network. The activity we support, and the workforce of arts and culture organisations we fund, should reflect the diversity of the UK and Germany.
In response to this, and as one of our priorities for the fund, we aim to support organisations who foster equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) through their leadership and programme/practice.
We are particularly keen to support applications from organisations who work with underrepresented or marginalised diverse groups, and/or communities who have limited opportunities to access arts and culture in their place.
Our UK definitions for these terms are as follows:
Equity is to treat everyone fairly. It involves recognising the differences in circumstances of different people and providing the resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome. An equity emphasis seeks to render justice by deeply considering structural factors that benefit some social groups/ communities and harm other social groups/communities. Sometimes justice demands, for the purpose of equity, an unequal response.
Diversity includes all the ways in which people differ, and it encompasses all the different characteristics that make one individual or group different from another.
Diversity in the arts refers to the active inclusion and respect for a range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, aiming to reflect society's full spectrum. This approach enriches cultural expressions and fosters innovation by integrating varied insights and voices into the creative process.
A broad definition of diversity includes not only race, ethnicity, and gender—the groups that most often come to mind when the term "diversity" is used—but also age, national origin, religion, disability (physical or mental), sexual orientation, socio-economic status, education, marital status, language, and physical appearance. It also involves different ideas, perspectives, and values.
Inclusion is about authentically bringing traditionally excluded individuals and/or groups into processes, activities, and decision/policy making in a way that shares power.
What do you mean by ‘access costs’?
Access costs are non-artistic costs aimed at removing barriers to participation for yourself, someone you are working with or employing, or for participants or audiences engaging with your Cultural Bridge activity.
There are two categories of access costs:
Personal access costs (internal)
If you, as the organisation lead, or any of the core team of people you are delivering the activity with are Deaf, disabled, neurodivergent or have a long-term health condition, there may be extra costs relating to your or their access needs to help deliver the activity.
Some examples are:
- a sign language interpreter
- specialist equipment or software
- additional travel costs
- a Personal Assistant for a disabled person
Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and you should tell us what you require in order to deliver the activity.
Costs must be directly related to the proposed activity and can only be for the delivery period, between the start and end dates you have specified.
Personal Access Costs are treated separately to your main activity budget. These costs can be in excess of your total funding request, and may take your budget above the Tier funding limit.
Where personal access costs are requested, we will ask you to provide further detail in the application form, including a breakdown of the costs involved and what they will be used for.
Activity access costs
All other access costs relating to your activity should be included within your main budget.
This can include the costs for making your activity accessible to public audiences, participants and artists e.g. interpreters for an event, and costs related to childcare and other caring responsibilities where you are unlikely to be able to undertake the planned activities without this support.
Who is the matchmaking for and what can I expect from this process?
If you are an organisation in the UK or Germany, who meets our eligibility criteria, and are looking for an organisation to make a NEW partnership application with, then we can help. Your organisation can sign up to take part in one of our online matchmaking sessions to help you to find the right connection.
From 8th July 2024, for approximately 6 weeks, an interest form will be live on the Cultural Bridge website. In the form, we will ask you for a short biography to describe the work of your organisation (650 characters), and for a named contact who is happy to participate and represent your organisation, including responding to enquiries from potential partners.
The matchmaking sessions will take place online in mid-September 2024. There will be a set number of spaces allocated to organisations from each of the four UK nations to ensure a good geographical balance and greater matching opportunities. We anticipate each organisation will have the chance to meet 15-20 other arts organisations, potential matches from the UK or Germany, in each online session.
Sessions will be led in English by members of our programme team. However, at least one of the facilitators will be bilingual (English & German speaking) to give some additional language support where needed.
We are also exploring additional ways to support those for whom English is not a first/fluent language, particularly within online group sessions.
Following the matchmaking sessions we will give you access to a MIRO board with the details (contact & biography) of all of the organisations in the UK and Germany who have registered as looking for a partner, in 2023 this was 140+. You are then welcome to research and reach out to any of those organisations whose work is of interest to you.
Whilst our matchmaking success rates are good, please note, taking part in a session does not guarantee you will find a partner.
If I applied previously and was unsuccessful, can I apply again?
Yes. We’ve updated our guidance and hope that it is clearer in terms of who and what we are looking to support with our funding. Please review the new guidance, our priorities and eligibility criteria, to be sure that this is the right fund for your organisation.
If I have already received Cultural Bridge funding, can I apply again?
If you have been funded previously as a Tier 1 organisation then you are encouraged to apply to Tier 2 to continue to develop your partnership collaboration through co-delivery of a project with community engagement.
If you have been funded in Tier 2 previously, you can apply again for further Tier 2 funding, however please note that our jury will prioritise strong applications from new organisations/ those who have not received any Tier 2 funding previously.
Similarly, if you wish to apply to Tier 1 or Tier 2 again with a different partner your application will be eligible, however, please note that our jury will prioritise strong applications from new organisations/ those who have not received any Cultural Bridge funding previously.
Can I apply with more than one partner?
Partnerships must be bi-lateral, including at least one German partner and one UK partner, from any one of the four nations: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
In addition to the two lead partners, you can include other additional ‘supporting’ partner organisations in your bid. However, please note that the funding you can apply for remains the same and the award can only be distributed between the two lead partners based in the UK and Germany.
Can current Tier 1 partners add new partners as part of a Tier 2 application?
Yes, you are welcome to involve new/additional partners within your Tier 2 application, there is space to note these supporting partners within the first section of the application form.
However, please note that the funding you can apply for remains the same, and the award can only be distributed to the lead partners in the UK and Germany.
Does Tier 1 activity need to be completed ahead of making a Tier 2 application?
No, although ideally you will have delivered the majority of your planned Tier 1 partnership activity and have a clear sense of what the next step in your collaboration will be.
If your partnership is not ready to apply for Tier 2 this year, please don’t worry, you are encouraged to take the time you need to develop your application and are welcome to apply in the following year.
Are there any expected outputs or outcomes from the funded activity?
The programme focuses on the development and exchange of social arts practice and therefore there is no requirement for funded partnerships to create an end-product linked to the programme. However, Tier 2 funded partnerships are project-based and must include direct engagement with communities.
As part of your funding agreement we will ask you to share your learning: insights
and practice-based discoveries with the network and more publicly through
contributions to our programme communications e.g. our blog and other
promotional materials. We will also ask you to contribute towards evaluative
work during and after the end date of the funded activity.
Are partner organisations expected to have match or co-funding?
No, there is no formal requirement for match funding, however for Tier 2 applicants we encourage ambition to build wider partnerships and to leverage other income, cash or in-kind, to meet your partnership aims.
Please see our funding guidance, section 11.1, for more details.
How are funding decisions made?
Once the eligibility of your application has been checked, your application will be scored by a jury panel of up to seven independent experts, comprising German and UK representatives nominated by the Cultural Bridge co-investing partners.
The jury panel will assess the application according to the following four criteria:
- The Partnership
- Activity approach
- Potential benefits/impact
- Management of activity, including timeline and budget
Decisions will be shared by 31st January 2025. Please see our funding guidance,
section 3 for eligibility and section 9 for application assessment details.
What type of delivery support will I receive from the programme leads?
Successful partnerships will be supported and accompanied throughout the year, including regular online network sessions.
These informal sessions will take place approximately every six weeks, during the delivery period, and will be facilitated by different members of the Cultural Bridge programme and evaluation teams.
These sessions have proved valuable in supporting organisations on their exchange journeys and to enable shared/peer learning across the programme.