Cultural Protection Fund: Small Grants Now Open!

Deadline: 31-Oct-22

The British Council is seeking applications for Cultural Protection Fund (CPF) to help create sustainable opportunities for social and economic development through building capacity to foster, safeguard and promote cultural heritage.

The CPF awards funding to projects which keep cultural heritage sites and objects safe, as well as supporting the recording, conservation and restoration of cultural heritage. It also provides opportunities to local communities for training and education, enabling and empowering them in the long term to value, care for and benefit from their cultural heritage.

The Cultural Protection Fund (CPF) is led by the British Council in partnership with the UK Government Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). It was launched in 2016 to protect vital cultural heritage at risk in conflict-affected regions. In 2019 the fund expanded its remit to protect cultural heritage at risk because of climate change and related disasters.

Funding Information

• Small grants up to £100,000

Impact Areas & Outcomes

• Heritage             
  • Cultural heritage at risk is better managed and prepared for potential threats.
  • Local organisations and communities have increased capacity and/or resilience to care for and protect cultural heritage.
• Society
  • Local people have developed skills, potentially leading to increased professional or other opportunities.
  • The profile of people engaging with cultural heritage is more diverse with respect to gender imbalances, age, ability, sexuality, ethnicity and social/religious background.
  • Local communities have a better understanding of their cultural heritage and value it more.
  • Local communities have played a more active role in protecting their cultural heritage or sharing it with others, potentially leading to increased social cohesion and a greater sense of well-being.
  • The local area is enhanced for the benefit of communities and visitors.
• Economy            
  • The local economy has been diversified.

Eligible Projects

• Projects must include activities that safeguard cultural heritage for future generations. Projects must protect heritage from risks relating to conflict and instability and/or climate change (and related disasters).
• Projects must include meaningful involvement of the local community, either through heritage protection activities, training or advocacy.

Geographic Focus

• Organisations can apply from anywhere in the world, but must be working in one of the fund’s target countries or territories:
  • Middle East and North Africa (MENA) – Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen
  • East Africa – Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda
  • South Asia – Afghanistan

Note: The security situation is under ongoing review. They welcome proposals that benefit Afghanistan, including those delivering activities outside of the country. Proposals will be assessed taking into account their understanding of the situation at the time.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applications must be submitted by one lead applicant organisation with up to eight partner organisations. Either the lead applicant or at least one of the partner organisations must be based in a country where project activity is taking place.
• Applications must demonstrate intent to benefit one or more of the target countries as their main aim. If private owners or for-profit organisations are involved in a project, They expect the benefit to the social and economic development of the target country to outweigh any private gain.
• If a grant is awarded, you will be required to accept the terms and conditions of their Grant Agreement. You are encouraged to read this document ahead of making your application – it is available to read on their website here.
• A lead applicant organisation can submit a maximum of three expressions of interests under any given round of funding but may only submit one full application. If a lead organisation was to submit two or more successful EOIs in one round, they would be asked which project they would like to proceed with and make a full application for.
•  Please note that if your organisation makes a successful full application and is awarded a grant it is unlikely that They would fund a second project that would take place during the same delivery period.
• Sole traders are not eligible to apply. All applicants will be required to submit evidence of legal status and supporting documentation in English.

For more information, visit https://www.britishcouncil.org/arts/culture-development/cultural-protection-fund/small-grants