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

Cultural Bridge, a funding programme that supports arts and cultural organisations across the UK and Germany to develop partnership projects that explore social arts practice is set to reopen for applications this autumn. The online application portal for the 2026-2027 Cultural Bridge programme will open from Wednesday 1st October until Wednesday 12th November 2025.

By enabling new and existing connections, Cultural Bridge 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.

Through co-investment from Arts Council England, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, British Council, Creative Scotland, Fonds Soziokultur, Goethe-Institut London and Wales Arts International / Arts Council of Wales, Cultural Bridge has so far supported 49 partnerships through 62 awards, across four rounds of funding since its pilot year in 2021.

Noirin McKinney, Director of Arts Development, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said, “The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is proud to partner with Fonds Soziokultur, Goethe-Institut London and our arts funding colleagues across these islands in the Cultural Bridge programme, thanks to The National Lottery.

This important initiative offers a valuable opportunity for our artists to engage with their counterparts in the UK and Germany with the aim of using the arts to connect communities, develop shared understanding and facilitate social change through the creation of new artistic work.

A number of NI organisations have benefitted from previous rounds of Cultural Bridge funding, and I would encourage those interested to apply when the programme reopens for applications in the autumn.”

There is a total of £370,000 (approximately €430,000) available in the 2026 - 2027 funding round. This budget will be split between the two funding tiers outlined below.

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.

To be eligible, applicants must be an organisation based in the UK or Germany (see guidance for further definition of ‘organisation’) and be able to demonstrate expertise in social arts practice working with communities.

Cultural Bridge is open to all artforms and 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 the programme aims and place themes
• Organisations who foster equity, diversity and inclusion through their leadership and practice

Cultural Bridge has released updated guidance for applicants on their website, so please ensure you have read this and checked your organisation’s eligibility to apply.

Ahead of applications opening, Cultural Bridge will be hosting online information sessions to help prospective applicants to find out more and ask questions. Attendees are encouraged to read the full guidance on the Cultural Bridge website ahead of the session to prepare questions. Information sessions will take place on Wednesday 18th June at 2pm and Tuesday 1st July at 12pm.

For eligibility guidelines, full information and to book an information session visit https://www.cultural-bridge.in...