Consider the following: 

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• Don't just tell us what you're doing, tell us how you're doing it. For example, instead of "We will run workshops," say "We will deliver six two-hour song writing workshops led by musician X, focusing on genre Y / skill Z." 

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• Give dates and venues for activities. If venues are confirmed, state this. If not, explain your plan for securing suitable locations.  

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• Give us an idea of the content of workshops, performances, or other activities. Include details about performers, repertoire, themes or facilitators. 

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• Tell us about the artists involved - their relevant experience and expertise. There is other guidance (coming soon) on completing the budget form but it’s worth noting here that where you are working with professional artists, we expect to see them receive appropriate compensation for their skills and time – aligning with industry-standard rates. 

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• If you intend to work with specific community groups, mention this and explain how you will engage them. For example, how will you make contact with the communities/participants you want to get involved? How will they find out about your project?  

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• It will help the panel to assess your capacity to deliver the activity if you describe how the project will be managed. Who is responsible for overseeing the project? What experience do they have?  

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• Tell us how your project meets our funding priorities (e.g. nurturing new music, creating partnerships, inspiring young people, etc.). Don't just mention the keywords; explain how your activities will contribute to these priorities. For example, "This project will help bring communities together by ………." or “We are creating a new partnership with xxx which will…”  

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• Is there anything that makes your project stand out? Is there something unique or innovative about your approach? Highlighting this can strengthen your application. 

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• Consider how you will make your project accessible to all members of the community, including disabled people or those from under-represented or excluded groups. 

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How will this project make a difference to the participants and communities it engages with? (maximum 500 words).  

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This section focuses on the impact of your project. Think about the short-term and long-term benefits for participants, communities, and artists.  

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• Are you expecting your project to have a specific outcome for your organisation? Perhaps increased membership numbers or new audiences? 

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• How will participants benefit from their involvement? Will they develop new skills, increase their confidence, or gain access to new experiences?  

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• How will the project benefit the communities you have chosen to work with? Will it promote social cohesion, enhance cultural life, or address a specific community need? 

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• How will the project support the development of the artists involved? Will it provide them with artistic development or new opportunities?  

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• If you have any plans for continuing or building on the project beyond the funding period, you might want to mention it here. 

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Other things to think about: 

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• Use clear, concise language and avoid jargon. You don’t need to use official sounding language – just make sure your application is easy to read and understand. Feel free to use bullet points if you find that more straightforward.  

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• If you struggle with written applications talk to us about submitting a video application. 

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• Budget: You also need to prepare a budget for your project using our template. There is video guidance on completing the budget template here.

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• As part of the conditions of any funding, we will need to see a completion report at the end of the project – so you should think about how you can evaluate your project. 

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Our funding rounds are very popular and usually over-subscribed. While your application may be strong, we simply don’t have the funds to award to every project. Even if your proposal meets our priorities, other applications may demonstrate a stronger fit or a greater impact. We also consider the geographical distribution of our funding and the nature of the organisations we support. If your application is unsuccessful, we'd be happy to discuss it with you and offer feedback for future submissions.