The Culture and Community Grants programme invites arts organisations, community groups and schools to apply for funding to widen participation in Westminster’s extraordinarily vibrant cultural offer, thereby helping the council deliver its Fairer Westminster Strategy.
This opportunity encourages local creatives and cultural organisations to deliver wellbeing and engagement projects in partnership with local residents.
We welcome proposals for free activities in community settings and public spaces, as well as bespoke events at cultural venues for those living in Westminster. It is our ambition to support projects that address the needs of those with protected characteristics to combat societal discrimination.
We particularly welcome activities that engage the following groups:
- those facing financial access barriers
- schoolchildren
- 16 to 25 year-olds
- over 65s
- global majority ethnic groups
- people with health conditions or impairments
- people experiencing social isolation
Applicants can apply for grants between £1,000 and £10,000 for activities taking place between 1 May 2025 and 28 February 2026. Proposed projects should be located in Westminster with clear and demonstratable benefits to our residents.
Please note that only applicants based in the City of Westminster are eligible to apply in this round.
Grants will be allocated to ensure diverse and inclusive representation that reflects Westminster communities. All awards will be made subject to satisfactory credit checks and due diligence. Please note that where projects are already supported via other council grants, the decision-making panel may consider those applications of lower priority.
Subsidy control rules
All applicants will be required to declare in the application form that the activity complies with subsidy control government legislation. Funding cannot contribute towards ‘economic activity’ or towards an ‘enterprise’. Find more advice from the Department of Business and Trade on the UK subsidy control regime.
