Capital grants of up to £20,000 are available to UK not-for-profit theatres for building projects and equipment that improve environmental sustainability.
The Wolfson Foundation is one of the largest independent UK grant-making charities, regularly awarding grants totalling between £30 million and £40 million annually. Its Theatres Trust's Theatre Improvement Scheme offers capital funding for theatres.
The theme for the fund for the current 3-year partnership is "Improving Environmental Sustainability" as the Theatres Trust and the Wolfson Foundation recognise that this is an urgent priority for the sector.
Theatre operators can apply for a capital grant of up to £20,000, with no matched funding requirement, towards their building or for equipment as part of the scheme. Around 10 grants are normally awarded each year (details of previous grant awards can be found under the heading ‘Grant Recipients’ on the Theatre Trust’s website - you'll need to scroll down the page to find the relevant section).
It is hoped that the Theatre Improvement grants will support a range of projects that consider different ways theatre buildings can reduce their environmental impact. From living green (sedum) roofs to new windows, building management systems to more efficient water heaters, funding will be given to projects that demonstrate how a small intervention can have a big impact.
To be eligible to apply to the scheme, applicants must demonstrate that they:
- Own or manage theatres with titles or signed leases of more than 5 years on buildings in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Run a year-round programme of live performance, of no less than 30 performances a year.
- Have a bona fide UK charitable or not-for-profit legal structure and be able to provide certified or audited accounts for at least two years, and
- Operate theatres that achieve excellence through their producing and programming or architectural significance.
Please note that organisations currently in receipt of other grants from the Theatres Trust or the Wolfson Foundation are not eligible to apply.
Further information, guidance and an online application form is available on the Theatres Trust website.
The deadline for applications is midday (12 noon) on Friday 11 September 2026.
Due to the high volume of applications to the Fund, pre-application discussions are, unfortunately, no longer available. However, a 25-minute webinar on applying to the Theatre Improvement Fund is available on You Tube.