Please note that this programme is paused until April 2026.
Grants of between £2,000 and £12,000 (this was previously £10,000) are available to support independent creative practitioners in England for research and development opportunities, and to build new networks and create new work.
Developing Your Creative Practice is an Arts Council England development fund with an annual budget of £3.6 million. The programme is designed to enable independent creative practitioners to undertake ambitious research and development, helping them make a step-change in their practice. The term ‘creative practitioners’ includes dancers, choreographers, writers, translators, producers, publishers, editors, musicians, conductors, composers, actors, directors, designers, artists, craft makers and curators.
Applicants may apply as an individual or as a small group of practitioners who usually collaborate in their work. This could include, for example, artists who create work together, or writers and their translators. Please note that organisations are not eligible to apply, while individuals are not permitted to apply on behalf of an organisation.
Applicants must have at least 3 years’ creative practice experience outside a formal education setting.
The programme supports activity focused on the following artforms and disciplines:
- Music
- Theatre
- Dance
- Visual Arts
- Literature
- Combined Arts, and
- Museums practice
A number of case studies are available on the Arts Council England website. These provide a useful overview of the scope of projects supported by Developing Your Creative Practice.
Please note that the Arts Council's grant management system, Grantium, is currently unavailable. The Arts Council is in the process of setting up alternative application processes and services, and will continue to regularly update its website with more information to support applicants during this period.