We Promote
Our members have suggested these organisations and sources for support for creative and cultural providers in Hertfordshire.
Please tell us about other resources or support that you have found helpful, which we can share with others – email support@creativehertfordshire.com
Funding Hub
Whether you’re an artist, community group, or creative organization, securing the right funding can be the key to unlocking your next big idea. Here, you’ll find a range of funding opportunities, resources, and guidance to help you bring your creative projects to life.
Explore the opportunities below to get started!
Current Funding Opportunities
Arts Council England – National Lottery Project Grants
Supporting arts, museums, and libraries projects that engage people in England. Grants range from £1,000 to £100,000, available for creative projects at any stage. The current focus is supporting grassroots music, museum unlocking collections and universal library offers.
Deadline: Rolling
More Info: Arts Council England
Hertfordshire Community Foundation – Access to Music
The HCF Small Music Grants are made to improve access to music for children and young people living in the county of Hertfordshire. Applications can come from charities, community groups, non-profits and schools.
Deadline: Rolling
More Info: Hertfordshire Community Foundation
National Lottery Community Fund – Awards for All
Grants between £300 and £20,000+ for small- and large-scale projects that benefit communities, including creative and cultural initiatives.
Deadline: Rolling
More Info: National Lottery Community Fund
Tips for Applying
Creating a standout application is crucial to securing funding. Here are 3 things funders look for:
Clarity of purpose: Ensure that your aims are clearly described. This means more than just listing your goals: funders will also want to know how you intend to achieve them. We see a lot of general statements and too much explanation of the need for the work, rather than explanations of the work itself.
Acknowledgement of potential problems: Acknowledging where the risks lie, and more importantly what you’ve done to mitigate them, shows you understand that you’re operating in the real world, and you’ve thought through what you are planning.
Top Tip: Always make sure your application is in the week before the deadline, it looks much better.
Additional Resources
Funding Search Engines
Use these online engines to search for available grants that match your specific project needs.
Idox
Sign up and refine your search through the filters to find your fit.
Street Games Funding Flash
Scroll to the bottom of the page to sign up for the Funding Flash newsletter.
Community Alliance Broxbourne & East Herts Funding Bulletin:
On the top left corner click subscribe to this Funding Bulletin to receive local and current funding opportunities.
National Arts Fundraising School:
The world’s most intensive and innovative training for fundraisers working in the arts and culture sector.
Workshops and Webinars
Head to our ‘Training’ page and keep an eye out for upcoming events, where we signpost to expert-lead workshops which share insights on funding applications, project management, and financial planning.
Training in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire Community Foundation
HCF Training & Development team provides training and courses on topics throughout the year including Risk Management for Turstees, Mastering Legacy Fundraising, Intro to Social Media Marketing, Safeguarding and First Aid. HCF manages training and grants to enable charities to support our communities for years to come. Sign up to their weekly Training & Development newsletter.
Community Help Hertfordshire showcases the vibrant tapestry of services offered by local CVS (voluntary sector infrastructure organisations that support local charities) and Volunteer Centres across Hertfordshire. These organisations play a crucial role in strengthening, supporting, and nurturing the voluntary sector, contributing to the wellbeing and growth of our local areas.
Each organisation brings its unique blend of expertise and resources, catering to a wide range of needs within the voluntary and community sectors. From capacity building and consultancy to advocacy and volunteer recruitment, these organisations are committed to providing comprehensive support and development opportunities.
This page has an overview of the services each organisation offers, including training topics. Whether you’re a local voluntary group seeking guidance, a community member looking to engage in volunteer work, or an entity in need of strategic support, our table of services will help you understand what each organisation can offer and how they can assist you in your endeavours.
Training regionally and nationally
The Training Hub at the Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance
Find training courses relevant to Creative Health from organisations across the country, online and in person.
Online evaluation training for arts, culture and heritage professionals
A free-to-access online course on Evaluation for Arts, Culture and Heritage: Principles and Practice provided by The Centre for Cultural Value. Note – you have two weeks to complete the course online.
Jobs
HOP (Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal)
Providing a gateway to new skills and career opportunities.
Operated by Arts Council England – nationwide and free to list your vacancies. Arts Jobs shares adverts for a range of opportunities within the arts sector including positions that require specialist knowledge and skills, and unskilled positions at arts organisations – which help organisations to run effectively and deliver creativity and culture. You can use Arts Events to announce arts-related events and exhibitions.
Developing your creative career
The Careers and Enterprise Company
Improving careers education to support the future workforce.
Get Enterprising
Fully funded specialist support for early-stage businesses in Hertfordshire.
Hertfordshire Film Office
Maximising the potential of Hertfordshire’s film and TV sector.
Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal (HOP)
Providing a gateway to new skills and career opportunities.
Grants – Developing Your Creative Practice (Grants from Arts Council England)
Funding to support individuals who are cultural and creative practitioners and want to take time to focus on their creative development.
The Shine School Media Awards is a free national competition rewarding UK secondary schools who produce an outstanding newspaper, magazine or multimedia project.
Creative Teacher Networks in Hertfordshire
Stevenage and Watford both have active networks, click on the link above to email the Herts Cultural Education Partnership for details.
Festival of Ideas – University of Hertfordshire
Find details of the latest Festival of Ideas at the University of Hertfordshire – an incredible showcase of innovation, from engaging panel discussions to captivating performances, interactive exhibitions, and thought-provoking virtual reality simulations.
Creative Career Spotlights – Hertfordshire Cultural Education Partnership
Showcasing the stories of the local creatives and cultural providers who inspire us, alongside their amazing work in Hertfordshire and beyond!
Creative Arts – at the University of Hertfordshire
Our vibrant School of Creative Arts offers an inspiring and supportive environment in which to start your journey towards a creative career. Our film, media, design, visual arts, music and art therapy courses are all led by talented artists, experienced lecturers and industry experts.
University of Hertfordshire Arts + Culture
UH Arts + Culture brings a rich arts and culture programme to our campus and our local communities. We share the best visual arts, live arts, and music with our university sites and our surrounding communities.
Marketing/Promotion Opportunities
Visit Herts
Promoting Hertfordshire’s heritage, wild days out, cultural escapes and magical memories for our visitors.
Enjoy Dacorum
A mix of attractions and hidden treasures around the towns of Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted and Tring, along with picturesque villages and rural locations.
Enjoy St Albans
Plan your visit to St Albans
What’s On In Watford
Watford offers a fantastic lineup of activities designed to bring joy and excitement to our community.
One Welwyn Hatfield
News and events in Welwyn Hatfield.
The Hertfordshire Directory – helping you find a wealth of services and activities across the county. You can also list your services on it for free.
Help make it the go-to resource for information on Hertfordshire services by:
- Spread the word: Share the information with other service providers you work, encouraging them to sign up and spread the word.
- Check listings: Verify that your service, or any services you work with, are listed.
- Update information: Ensure all details are current, including an email address so you can receive annual reminders
For questions or support, please email anne.ardley@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Opportunities To Collaborate
Cultural networks in Hertfordshire
Broxbourne – Broxbourne Arts Forum
East Herts – Arts in East Herts
Watford
Stevenage Arts Guild
For over 30 years, HVA’s growing membership of professionals, amateurs and hobbyists has been at the centre of the thriving and energetic visual arts landscape in Hertfordshire. It promotes, supports and co-ordinates artists, galleries, community projects and exhibitions. Run by volunteers, it’s completely focussed on making the visual arts accessible, vibrant and enjoyable.
Regional/national cultural networks
The Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance
The Culture, Health & Wellbeing Alliance is the sole free-to-join membership organisation for creative health across England. Sign up for their free newsletter.
Spaces and venues for hire
These providers have said that they have space or venues for hire.
Please contact these providers directly for more details.
