Applications open for new cultural fund

A new cultural fund aimed at supporting organisations and encouraging more creative programming in Renfrewshire is now open for applications.

The Cultural Organisations Fund (COF) is a new multi-year funding programme that supports established Renfrewshire-based cultural organisations to deliver creative activities for residents, supporting long-term engagement with the arts, culture and heritage. 

The fund is also designed to contribute to organisations revenue costs, making it easier for them to plan and deliver sustained programmes of cultural activity.

Applications for COF launched on Tuesday 8 April and will close on Tuesday 20 May 2025 with outcomes of the assessment process expected in July 2025.

Through the fund applicants can apply for £10,000, £15,000 or £20,000 per year, offering up to a maximum of £60,000 over a three-year period. All COF-funded activity must be completed by March 2028.

Earlier this year Renfrewshire Council approved a £1million investment in cultural funding grants over the next three years. The creation of COF was agreed as part of this investment to support the areas continued cultural regeneration.

Cllr Lisa-Marie Hughes, Chair of Renfrewshire Council’s Cultural Funding Grants Review Panel said: “We know the positive impact cultural activity can have on health and wellbeing in our communities. Through the new Cultural Organisations Fund (COF) we want to support local organisations to continue to deliver creative programming that will engage the local community while giving them the piece of mind to be able to plan for the future.

“COF supports cultural organisations within Renfrewshire with both programming and revenue costs to allow them to deliver long-term engagement with their communities through diverse, creative programming.  

“Cultural grants have enabled local artists and cultural organisations to develop new work and supported the growth of the local creative sector which is a key part of Renfrewshire’s cultural regeneration journey.”

COF replaces the previous Cultural Organisations Development Fund (CODF). This was informed by an in-person workshop and follow up survey distributed to recipients of previous cultural funding grants. There was clear feedback from the sector that a multi-year cultural fund offering the opportunity to cover both revenue and programming costs for cultural organisations was a key priority.

Since 2016 more than £2.6m had been awarded to local artists, creative organisations and community groups through cultural funding grants helping to support the growth of local talent and allow more cultural activity to be programmed in the area

Guidance and the application for the fund can be found on the Renfrewshire Council website – www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/COF.