Create & Engage

Create & Engage pays for making work and putting it in front of people: for musicians that's new work for presentation, programming or touring, and community participation projects, with training and professional development open to organisations only. It won't fund a project centred on recording, promotion or distribution — the Arts Council points those applicants to PRS Foundation, Help Musicians or Tŷ Cerdd instead. Individuals must be based in Wales; organisations can bring in a non-UK partner provided a UK body leads and the benefit lands in Wales. The project must run mainly in Wales, be new rather than part of your regular programme, have a firm start and end date, and involve at least one partner, mentor or community group. Small awards go up to £10,000 with no deadline, just ten working weeks' notice before you start; Large awards run £10,001–£60,000 (exceptionally to £100,000 for organisations, by prior agreement) against four fixed dates a year, the next on 16 December 2026, with twelve weeks' notice. Funding covers at most 90% of costs, so you need another 10% from a non-Lottery source, support in kind included. You'll submit an application form, a budget, and — if you're applying as an individual — a two-page artistic CV. Assessors weigh the artistic proposal and fair treatment of freelancers, fit with the Council's equality and Welsh-language priorities, impact on underrepresented audiences, your partnerships, and whether the financial plan holds up.