Funding

Applications for the 2026 - 2027 Cultural Bridge programme will open in October 2025

Cultural Bridge supports arts and cultural organisations across the UK and Germany to develop partnerships that explore social arts practice.

By enabling new and existing connections, the programme supports a growing network of organisations committed to sharing expertise and skills, exchanging ideas and collaborating on artistic practices and projects that explore themes and issues faced by communities across both countries.

The application portal for the 2026-2027 Cultural Bridge programme will be open from Wednesday 1st October - Wednesday 12th November 2025.

We have released updated guidance for applicants, so please ensure you have read this and checked your organisation’s eligibility to apply before considering an application. 

If you have any questions, please read our FAQs before getting in touch. You can also register for one of our upcoming Information Sessions - see below. 

Key information

Watch the short information film about Cultural Bridge funding: 

Watch the film in the Gaelic language
Watch the film in the German language
Watch the film in the Welsh language


Full guidance 

Download the PDF (English)

Download the text-only version (English)

Download the guidance in German language

Download the guidance in Welsh language

Download the guidance in Gaelic language

How much is available?

There is a total of £370,000 (approximately €430,000) available in the 2026 - 2027 funding round. This budget will be split between our two funding tiers outlined below and we anticipate making up to 20 awards.

Tier 1: Practice exchange & development of new partnerships, up to £10,000 per partnership
Supporting the development of brand new partnerships between arts and cultural organisations in the UK and Germany. 

Tier 2: Co-development and project delivery for established partnerships, up to £30,000 per partnership
Supporting further development of partnerships, where organisations already have experience of working together.

Organisations can apply for a contribution to personal access costs in addition to the funding outlined above, see the full guidance for further information. 


Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants must: 

  • Be an organisation based in the UK or Germany (see guidance for further definition of ‘organisation’
  • Be able to demonstrate expertise in social arts practice working with communities 

Cultural Bridge is open to all artforms, the 2026 - 2027 funding round will prioritise support for: 

  • Smaller arts & cultural organisations who don’t already receive significant or sustained funding 
  • Organisations based or working with communities outside of major cities e.g. in rural areas or less populated urban centres
  • Organisations who empower local communities through their creative work
  • Organisations whose work aligns with our programme aims and place themes
  • Organisations who foster equity, diversity and inclusion through their leadership and practice

The Cultural Bridge programme is committed to promoting an equitable, diverse and inclusive network. The activity we support, and the workforce of arts and culture organisations we fund, should reflect the diversity of the UK and Germany.

Information sessions

Find out more about the funding opportunity and ask questions at one of our upcoming information sessions held on Zoom. We encourage you to read the full guidance ahead of the session so you can prepare your questions.

English language sessions

German language sessions

Support with matchmaking for Tier 1 applications

From 22nd May to 1st September 2025, organisations who meet our funding criteria and are interested in applying for Tier 1 funding can complete the 'New Partner' interest form. 

Completing this form will allow your organisation access to the details of other potential partner arts organisations in the UK or Germany. Once granted access, you are then welcome to research and reach out to any of the organisations whose work is of interest to you. 

Please read the full guidance and check your eligibility before completing the ‘New Partner’ form.

Complete the form

Deadline for New Partner form registrations: Monday 1st September 

Key dates

Fund opens: Wednesday 1st October 2025
Application deadline: 12pm (UK) 1pm (Germany), Wednesday 12th November 2025
Decisions: by 2nd February 2026
Activity starts: from 1st April 2026
Activity ends: by 31st March 2027


Help to apply

We want to make the process of applying to the Cultural Bridge programme accessible to all organisations who would like to apply. If you need support to make an application, there are a number of ways we can help.

The guidance is available in accessible formats, including formatted PDF and Plain Text. If you require an alternative format please get in touch.

If you require additional support to apply, our programme leads in the UK and Germany are on hand - please see their contact details below.


Contact us

Please read the guidance in full and check the Frequently Asked Questions on our website before reaching out to a member of the programme team.

UK organisations contact:
Lorna Palmer
Programme Manager, Cultural Bridge
contact_at_cultural-bridge.info  

German organisations contact:
Silvia Bonadiman Programme development
Fonds Soziokultur e.V.
bonadiman_at_fonds-soziokultur.de