The goal of Scops Arts Trust is to help people to understand, participate in and enjoy the arts, particularly the performing arts. We are keen to find projects which widen access and have a lasting cultural impact on the community.
Now that Scops Arts Trust has been established for several years and we have experience of a wide variety of organisations and projects applying for funding, we are finding that a significant number of Stage 1 applications are not what we are seeking to support. This is not the best use of time for applicants or the Trust. Having undertaken a review of our grant-making policy and in an effort to ensure that we only receive applications which fit closely with our grant-making priorities, we have decided to focus each of the three grant rounds per year on a different area within the performing arts.
In 2024, these will be as follows:
Round 1: Opens 9 January for decisions by 30 April
Focus on music performances at local arts festivals plus children’s music education (see below)
Round 2: Opens 14 May for decisions by 7 August
Focus on adult music education projects plus children’s music education (see below)
Round 3: Opens 27 August for decisions by 30 November
Focus on instrumental and choral music groups plus children’s music education (see below)
N.B. applications for children’s music education projects will be considered at every round.
If your project does not fall within our focus, it will not be considered. If your answers to the eligibility questions are not accurate, your application will be rejected.
Please note we do not support projects or organisations where the main focus is health, therapy or social welfare; nor do we contribute towards the costs of construction, fit-out or repairs of arts venues.
We are particularly keen to help small-to-medium-sized organisations, although large charities are not excluded from applying. Most of our current grants support projects run by registered charities, but in exceptional circumstances, we will consider applications from established community groups as long as they have clear charitable aims. We award one-off grants and also consider multi-year funding. The majority of grants we award are in support of projects, but contributions towards specific and restricted core costs of smaller organisations where a grant from Scops Arts Trust could make an impact, will be considered.
Please read our Grant Guidelines carefully before applying.