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Wigan Cultural Development Match Fund

Notices

What can I apply for?

The Cultural Development Match Funding Grant is a pilot scheme where the council is providing match funding for applications with the potential to bring additional investment to the borough. These might be, but are not limited to, Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants, National Heritage Fund and trusts and foundations.

Application guidance

Funding Criteria

The match funding is restricted to cultural & heritage organisations, or individuals working in these fields, based in Wigan and projects taking place solely in the Borough. Projects must contribute to one or more of the council’s cultural priorities:

  • Celebrate our unique culture and heritage through events, exhibitions and media​.
  • Ensure people have access to new cultural activities across our borough​.
  • Promote local artistic talent.
  • Engage, challenge and galvanise our young people to create cultural innovations and experiences​.
  • Support and enable the preservation, development and use of our cultural and heritage assets.

In addition to this, projects are expected to be public facing or contain a significant amount of public or community engagement.

This is not a general grant making scheme and these funds can only be used as match funding for applications that have not yet been submitted. We cannot offer funding retrospectively or as match to other council grants/investment.

We do not fund

  • Political and religious events and projects, excluding arts and cultural events that promote religious or racial harmony, or equality and diversity.
  • Political projects to raise funding for charitable purposes.
  • Projects principally for individual or professional development.

What you can apply for

You can apply for up to £2,000 per application. The leverage ratio of any amount applied for should be at least 5:1. This means applications must "lever in" more than five times the amount applied for from Wigan Council. We strongly encourage people apply for lesser amounts where possible. The amount applied for from Wigan Council should always be clearly listed in the proposed budget in the application to the funding organisation. Match Funding Grants are conditional on the application to the funding organisation being successful. If your application to the funding organisation is unsuccessful, then the Match Funding Grant offer will be withdrawn.

When to apply

Wigan Cultural Development Match Funding pilot is a rolling programme from July 2024 – March 2025.  There is a limited amount (£25,000) available over the course of the year. Applicants should be aware that the programme may run out of funds before the end of the financial year.

How to apply 

To make an application to the Wigan Cultural Development Match Fund, applicants must complete the online form with a copy of the major funder application attached.

Enquiries

If you have any questions about the fund, please contact theturnpikegallery@wigan.gov.uk.