Cultural Bridge celebrates intercultural artistic exchange through the collaboration of all UK arts councils and leading German cultural institutions. By funding partnerships between Germany and the UK, the programme aims to build new relationships and foster artistic collaboration and cultural democracy.
In 2021, Cultural Bridge launched its pilot programme supporting seven new artistic collaborations between organisations across the UK and Germany to initiate projects exploring socially engaged arts practice through intercultural exchange and dialogue. Find out more.
Applications are now open for the 2023-2024 Cultural Bridge programme. This is an opportunity for arts organisations based in the UK and Germany who embody cultural democracy and wish to forge or develop bilateral partnerships to work together and share artistic practice.
Key information:
The application deadline is 12pm (UK) 1pm (Germany) on Wednesday 26th October 2022. Decisions are due by 14th December 2022.
This programme is open to all cultural organisations with proven expertise in socially engaged artistic practice.
Partnerships must include at least one German partner and one UK partner, from any one of the four nations: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Applications can be for physical, digital or hybrid activity focussed on socially engaged/participatory practice and in response to the programme aims/themes (see full guidance)
Please submit one application per partnership.
Please ensure you have read the full guidelines available below, before applying.
To apply, please download and complete the application form and submit it to Lorna Palmer, Programme Manager for Cultural Bridge, ACE International at lorna.palmer@artscouncil.org.uk.
The Cultural Bridge Year 2 programme has two funding tiers:
Tier 1: New Partnerships
Supporting new partnerships between UK and German organisations, applicants can request between £5000 (approx €5900) – £10,000 (approx €11900) in total per partnership.
Tier 2: Established Partnerships
Supporting existing partnerships between UK and German organisations, applicants can request up to £30,000 (approx €35800) per partnership.
There is no requirement for match funding, but existing partnerships applying for Tier 2 are encouraged to build wider partnerships and leverage other income/in-kind support.
Application forms:
- Download the Tier 1 application form (PDF, English)
- Download the Tier 2 application form (PDF, English)
- Download the Tier 1 application form (Microsoft Word, English)
- Download the Tier 2 application form ((Microsoft Word, English)
- Download the Tier 1 application form (Microsoft Word, Welsh)
- Download the Tier 2 application form (Microsoft Word, Welsh)
- Download the Tier 1 application form (Microsoft Word, Gaelic)
- Download the Tier 2 application form (Microsoft Word, Gaelic)
Key dates:
- 26th October 2022 Deadline for applications
- 14th December 2022 Cultural Bridge Year 2 Awardees Announced
- February 2023 – February 2024 Funded projects delivery period
Full guidance:
- Download the PDF (English)
- View the text-only Microsoft Word version (English)
- Listen to an audio version (English, view the timecodes here)
- Download the PDF (Welsh)
- View the text-only version (Welsh)
- Download the PDF (Gaelic)
- View the text-only version (Gaelic)
We want to make the process of applying to the Cultural Bridge programme accessible to all organisations that would like to apply. If you need access support to make an application or require an alternative format for the guidance, please get in touch with our programme lead.
Contact us:
Our programme lead is on hand to support all applicants with questions they might have about the guidance or making an application:
Lorna Palmer, Programme Manager for Cultural Bridge, ACE International lorna.palmer@artscouncil.org.uk
