Arts Council Opens First Funding Rounds

The Arts Council of the Velocity Interoperability Network today published the timetable for its first funding rounds. The Council operates four programmes: Project Grants of between 2,000 and 25,000 credits for individual artists and small groups; Organisation Grants of between 25,000 and 250,000 credits a year, for up to three years, for arts organisations at Network sites; the Commissioning Fund, which supports new work for public places with awards of up to 400,000 credits; and Development Bursaries of up to 5,000 credits for training, travel and research.

Development Bursaries open on Monday 7 September 2026 and are assessed monthly on a rolling basis. The first round of Project Grants opens on 14 September and closes on 16 October 2026, with decisions on 27 November. The first round of the Commissioning Fund opens on 21 September and closes on 30 October 2026, with decisions on 11 December. The first Organisation Grants round opens on 5 October and closes on 27 November 2026, with decisions on 29 January 2027.

Applications are made by email. Applicants first register with the Council and receive an applicant reference, then submit an application form, budget and supporting material before the closing date. Every application is assessed by a panel against published criteria, and every applicant receives a written decision with reasons. The full guidance, eligibility rules and the steps from registration to grant agreement are set out on the Funding Programmes page of this site.