Inspire Fund (Greater Manchester Combined Authority / Salford CVS)

A £300,000 Greater Manchester Combined Authority fund, administered by Salford CVS, offering individual grants of £500 to £2,000 to freelancers and smaller organisations working in music and the arts across Greater Manchester, with applications running over three years. It was set up after reports showed weak support for freelancers, independent creatives, artists, musicians and performers in the region, and applications are encouraged from independent artists and musicians as well as small creative arts organisations. Photography, literature, heritage and visual arts projects are eligible too, so music competes with the wider cultural sector. NO ROUND CURRENTLY OPEN: the GMCA page lists Rounds 1 to 3 and all are closed, Round 1 having closed at 12:00 on Friday 1 March 2024, and no new round is announced. The 31 October 2025 date previously stored here does not appear anywhere on the organiser page and has been removed rather than left for deadline reminders to act on. Since the fund was set up to run for three years, a further round is plausible, so watch the GMCA culture funding page.