Imagine Fund 2023 in the UK

Deadline: 10-Feb-23

The Barbican Centre has announced the applications for Imagine Fund 2023 to support local people and Unincorporated Associations in the City of London to create projects that will bring people together, kickstart a new idea or have a go at something they’ve always wanted to try.

Types of Funds

Seed Funds
- They can offer all successful applicants:
  - A grant of up to £500
  - Support with ideas development
  - A sharing event at the end of the process
Project Grants
- They can offer all successful applicants:
  - A grant of up to £2000
  - Regular check ins with the team and your fellow grantees
  - Support with ideas development
  - A sharing event at the end of the process

What kind of Projects they might fund?

A knitting group for neighbours, plant projects, creative workspace, community events, film screenings, talks series, listening parties, oral history project, mural painting, creating an archive, recording a podcast, photography, dancing, poetry, performances, courses, training & skills development, cooking classes, languages, art walks, family events, storytelling, research about the area – anything you’re interested in!
They won't fund…
- Registered charities, CICs, CIOs, Businesses, Trusts, schools.  
- Large scale projects that already have funding  
- Projects taking place outside of a 10-minute walking distance from City of London boundary  
- General appeals for funding  
- Activities that promote a political party or religion, or groups seeking to alter decisions made by political parties  
- Retrospectively, or to reimburse expenditure already made or committed, or to clear debts or loans

Eligibility Criteria

They want to support projects that:
- Will benefit local people in the City of London (the area, not the entire capital), especially minoritised communities
- Are relevant to the area and the needs of local people
- Are for and by people who face barriers to opportunities and are underrepresented in the arts. They encourage those who experience mental health conditions, physical health/disability, sensory impairment, learning disabilities, neurodivergence, substance use, identify as survivors, and those from working-class backgrounds, as well as LGBTQIA+, and Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities or traveler communities to apply.
- Are delivered by people who are applying for funding for the first time or have only received small amounts of funding before.
- Individuals who live, work, study or have a strong community connection in the City of London (the district, not the entire Capital)
- Individuals who live work or study within a 10-minute walk from the City of London boundary
- Unincorporated Associations can also apply for the Project Fund, as long as their postcode is located in the City of London or within a 10-minute walk from the City of London boundary.
Please note that:
- Priority will be given to those who cannot access funding via other routes.
- The project you propose must also take place in the City of London or within a 10-minute walk from the City of London boundary.
- They aim to fund a wide range of projects by applicants from various lived experiences, particularly those from minoritised communities.