Select title to expand lists of resources.
Gov.UK’s potential funding sources for libraries in UK
A comprehensive list of Funding organisations, Trusts & Foundations, Directories, databases, websites for libraries in the UK. Also includes tips and further advice on applying for funding.
ACE Arts Council England
Directory of The ACE Funding Finder.
Department for International Development (DIfD)
36 different funds currently open, with different objectives and different target countries.
British Council's Creative Europe Desk UK
Creative Europe Desk UK promotes awareness and understanding of Creative Europe, and provides free advice and support for applicants from the UK. Creative Europe Desk UK’s team of specialists is based across the UK (in London, Manchester,
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast) and organises workshops, seminars and industry events.
Creative Europe Desk UK advise on funding opportunities available through Creative Europe, an EU funding programme which
supports the cultural and creative sectors. Their function is funded by a partnership Of British Council, BFI, Arts Council England, Creative Scotland and the Welsh Government. The funding opportunities are for organisations working
in partnership across countries to address capacity challenges, explore innovative ways of working and reach new audiences.
The main opportunity is the annual call for Cooperation Projects. This strand supports the
delivery of transnational cooperation projects, jointly developed by partner organisations in different European countries, across any art form or cultural field (libraries are eligible and under-represented) for a maximum duration
of four years. The Cooperation Projects deadline is annual and normally falls around the end of the year, but it’s good to begin establishing partnerships in spring.
British Academy Research Institutes
Supports a network of overseas research institutes that operate in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, most of which make grants.
The British Academy provides government funding to seven British International Research Institutes – see separate entries British Institute at Ankara British Institute in Eastern Africa British Institute of Persian Studies British
School at Athens British School at Rome Council for British Research in the Levant Society for Libyan Studies British Institute for the Study of Iraq These institutes conduct research, collaborate with overseas and UK-based partners,
and provide facilities, training and financial, academic and logistical support to researchers. They also run events programmes, held in the UK and overseas. All the research institutes operate as autonomous bodies.
British Academy International Programmes
International Programmes invest in excellent research internationally. Various international programmes including recently: Heritage, Dignity and Violence. This programme funds social sciences and humanities to bear on the challenges
of our time.
Tackling the UK's International Challenges: The projects funded under this programme aim to bring new research ideas and methods to bear on understanding the UK’s international challenges – past, current and future.
National Lottery
Lists all programmes from all Lottery Distributors.
National Lottery Community Fund
Formerly the Big Lottery, 360° Giving indicates that some town twinning projects have benefitted in the past as well as UK based international festivals.
The National Lottery Community Fund has funded an international programme through a variety of different initiatives since 1997. International funding represents around 1-2% of the overall funding distributed.
IFLA Fellowships, Funds, Grants and Awards
IFLA administers a number of Grants and Scholarships to enable aspiring library and information professionals from all over the world to enhance their training and to provide funding for new and exciting projects in the field of librarianship.
Cultural Mobility Funding Network
Series of directories to encourage mobility as an artist, a cultural professional and/or a cultural organisation. Also updates on implications of Brexit. The website signposts organisations and funds as well as information and tips
on how and where to find funding.
EU European Union
EU funding has benefitted the UK heritage, education and related activities.
European Cultural Foundation
The European Cultural Foundation initiates and supports cultural exchange and creative expression across wider Europe open to individuals and organisations from all over the world.
Various calls are made such as Research & Development grants to support people and their ideas using creativity and cultural methods for positive change at a local, regional and/or European level. Tandem supports long-term cooperation,
knowledge development and networking opportunities between cultural managers across wider Europe Supporting Travel for Engaged Partnership: STEP travel grants support creative and critical cultural workers travelling across Europe
and its neighbouring countries, to help foster a society with greater solidarity, equality and a stronger sense of social justice.
Goethe Institut
The Goethe-Institut is the Federal Republic of Germany’s cultural institute, active worldwide, promoting the study of German abroad and encouraging international cultural exchange.
Residency Programmes includes calls for international applicants.
American Library Association International Opportunities and Funding Sources for Librarians
Library Grants Blog by ALA
Compiled by Stephanie Gerding & Pam MacKellar, this blog is a list of grants related to libraries.
Andrew W Mellon
The four core program areas: Higher Education and Scholarship in the Humanities; Arts and Cultural Heritage; Scholarly Communications; and International Higher Education and Strategic Projects. The latter supports stronger systems
of higher education and cultural institutions in emerging as well as more established regions of the globe.
Bagri Foundation
The Foundation is dedicated to promoting the arts and culture of Asia through a diverse programme of film, visual arts, music, dance, literature, courses and lectures. The four main programmes:
- Curious Minds’ includes courses, lectures, research-led projects and exhibitions, symposiums and exploratory series’ or publications. In addition, it supports global research and international partnerships that contribute to society
by undertaking in-depth explorations of global topics which connects the arts to other disciplines.
- ‘Making Waves’ is a strand of activity that includes major festivals, biennials and ambitious projects that contribute to a global discourse.
- ‘Springboard’ consists of new commissions, artistic residencies, awards and scholarships, first solo shows or series of performances in the UK, across Asia, or those inspired by the continent, wider visibility on the global stage.
- ‘One of a Kind’ is a strand of programming that provides a space for new ideas, never-before-seen and risk-taking projects across all disciplines, in particular, projects which creatively weave the traditional and contemporary
of Asian culture.
Barakat Trust
The Barakat Trust supports the study and preservation of Islamic heritage, architecture, archaeology, art and culture by funding students, academic research, publications, digitisation, conservation, conferences and other projects.
Barakat Trust awards are open to applicants worldwide.
Confucius Institutes
The global Confucius Institute network supports study trips and educational activities for people to understand more about China and work with colleagues in Chinese universities, schools and other organisations. It can be thought of
very broadly as the Chinese equivalent of the British Council. There are 29 Institutes in the UK out of 524 worldwide.
There are specific funding streams available for study tours and tailored activities, and local university Confucius Institutes based in UK universities can advise further on this.
Edith M Ellis 1985 Charitable Fund
This Quaker based fund gives a small number of grants to organisations who have innovative ideas to bring about a more peaceful and sustainable world. Including a sustainable development category.
Seed grants of between £2,000 and £10,000 to UK registered charities, NGOs, public bodies and social enterprises, usually limited to those with an annual turnover of less than approximately £350,000.
The Golden Bottle Trust
Arts, culture, heritage and science. Although 89% of the causes supported by the GBT focus their work within the UK, it does support some international causes with a global reach.
Helen Hamlyn Trust
Linked to the broad objectives of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, this independent trust’s core ethos is to develop innovative projects to effect lasting change, improve quality of life and create opportunity for the benefit of the public.
The Trust’s grant-making is in the fields of medicine, arts and culture, education and welfare, healthy ageing, international humanitarian affairs and heritage and conservation in India.
Nuffield Foundation - Commonwealth Relations Trust
A small fund established to strengthen relationships between the UK and other Commonwealth countries.
Pears Foundation
An independent, British family foundation, rooted in Jewish values. It aims to promote understanding of key issues through research and education programmes; drive engagement in social progress across the UK and globally, particularly
in young people, and support organisations focused on wellbeing for everyone, especially those with a tough challenge to face.
There’s no restriction on what the Foundation invest in and ‘we’re not afraid to fund things that others might shy away from, including core operating costs and experimental ideas that may not work’.
Prince Claus Fund
The Fund has created opportunities for connection and exchange and stimulated cultural expression, primarily in Latin America, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Eastern Europe.
The Prince Claus Fund’s Mobility Fund supports the cross-cultural exchange of young emerging artists and cultural workers from ODA countries for example by funding attendance at a meeting, festival, conference for the first time to
expand professional networks; attendance at capacity development training; participation in a local arts and culture scene followed by knowledge-sharing with local and/or international peers; and by setting up new (experimental)
cross-border partnerships for upcoming projects, particularly those in the preparation or development phase.
Rothschild Foundation Hanadiv Europe
The Rothschild Foundation Hanadiv Europe aims to ensure that Jewish culture and heritage is actively supported, valued and looked after for generations to come.
Grants assist universities, museums, libraries, archives and Jewish organisations; offer professional development opportunities and support pan-European organisations that are able to offer collaborative and convening networks. Available
to organisations or institutions active in Europe (including Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus), where activities qualify as charitable under UK charity law.
If you would like to suggest additions or changes to the above list, please contact rabeea.arif@cilip.org.uk
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