Sustainability in Culture training and grants
The Bradford Way is a strategic partnership programme funded by Arts Council England’s Place Partnership Programme. Delivered by a consortium of 4 cultural partners: CBMDC, The Leap, Bradford Producing Hub and Cultural Voice Forum, its purpose is to support people in Bradford to have greater ownership of cultural activities, working responsively with communities and offering opportunities which respond to local challenges and needs.
The Culture, Policy and Events Team is working towards delivering the cultural strategy Culture Is Our Plan, by 2031. As a service area, our work streams are developed to support a thriving cultural economy and ecology, which include:
- Cultural Programme of Events and Festivals
- Cultural Partnerships
- Arts, Culture and Heritage Grants Programmes
Culture is Our Plan embeds sustainable working in all aspects of the strategy. One of the key ambitions in CIOP is “making the most of what we have” which holds sustainability as a key part of its success, including ensuring our cultural sector is equipped with the appropriate skills, resources and knowledge to ensure we are collectively working in a sustainable way and that we use our assets in an environmentally conscious way. The Sustainability in Culture Grants programme is a key aspect of this work to help us reach our targets as part of Culture is Our Plan.
SAIL (Sustainable Arts in Leeds) has been commissioned to deliver the overarching Sustainability in Culture programme, which includes one large group training session and 30 1-1 mentoring sessions with organisations or groups and individuals in the creative sector.
As part of this training and mentoring Bradford Council is proud to offer small grants of up to £1450 to creatives who require funding to assist with developing and implementing their business plans.
Training and mentoring
We still have places available for 1-1 mentoring with SAIL to support the development of sustainability plans.
They are offering free one to one training as part of the Bradford Way where SAIL will help you develop a bespoke sustainability plan. This is available to organisations and individuals, times and dates are flexible and they can be online meetings, in person meetings and evening and weekend slots. To book your space, please visit the online booking form. If you can’t find a slot that works for you, email us and we’ll make sure we can find a time that works.
What are the funds for:
The funding is to support Bradford’s creative sector to develop new sustainable business plans. This may include but not limited to:
- supporting the writing of new plans, further training for staff and volunteers,
- implementing initiatives such as walking or cycling rather than travelling as an individual driver
- support delivering your sustainable business plans such as using materials used will be recycled, preloved etc.
Who can apply:
The sustainability grants are available for arts and culture-based organisations, individuals or community groups who are based or living or delivering arts and culture workin Bradford.
Applicants must have signed up or already received a 1-1 mentoring session with SAIL (Sustainable Arts in Leeds) to be eligible to receive this funding.
Total number of grants and funding available:
There is a total of 30 grants available with a maximum fund of £1450 available per grant.
Timeframe: Grants to be awarded October and November 2025 with activities to be delivered by 31 March 2026.
What we can’t fund:
- Activities that have already taken place
- Support with existing plans that have already been written prior to mentoring with SAIL
- Activities that will not be delivered by March 2026
- Creative projects and activities
Selection process
SAIL and the CBMDC Culture Team and Sustainability Team will assess the applications on a rolling basis throughout October and November with the aim to provide all grants by the end of November 2025.
Things to submit with your application:
- Your budget
- Copy of your plans
- Sustainability Checklist
- Any supporting documents
- Links to your work/business
- Constitution documents (if you are not already known by Bradford Council Culture Team)
Please submit to [email protected]
