Funding applications can feel daunting, particularly when you are trying to turn a creative idea into the language of outcomes, budgets, evidence and activity plans. But one of the key messages from our latest funding advice session was reassuringly simple: fundraising is all about telling a story and as creatives that’s what we do, so don’t feel intimidated.

Do you have an idea for a heritage project? Are you thinking of applying to The National Lottery Heritage Fund? Join our free online event ‘Applying for grants from £10,000 to £250,000 under its new 10-year strategy ‘Heritage 2033’.

Invitation to Black Country Creative Freelancers - Creative Black Country’s Funding Network is hosting a free event especially for you!

We asked our Fundraising Manager Yvonne to help us look back at the past year of the Fundraising Fellowship Scheme and to share what has been happening.

This year we welcomed Zahara Foster as our Project & Event Support Intern for 2025. Zahara joined us via the University of Birmingham’s B-Experienced Internship Programme and was mentored throughout by our Fundraising Manager Yvonne.

On 9th October 2025 in Bilston, community groups, arts organisations and creatives from across the Black Country gathered for a special event ‘Creative Funding for the Future’.

Fundraising Fellowship Scheme 2025 is OPEN for applications. Find out more and how to apply here.

CBC’s Fundraising Fellowship Scheme 2024/25. Find out what this year’s cohort got up to…

CBC’s initiative to boost fundraising for arts and culture activities in the region is back for a 3rd year.

Creative Black Country’s Fundraising Fellowship Scheme cohort, a vibrant assembly of artists and arts organisations based across Dudley, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Sandwell boroughs.

Creative Black Country’s Funding Network invite you to a special online webinar for funding advice with the National Lottery Heritage Fund: Applying for grants from £10,000 to £250,000 under its new 10-year strategy ‘Heritage 2033’.

The sun shone for our second Workplace Wellbeing Workshop with lovely staff from Paycare.

With thanks to Sallyanne Rock of Glass Pen Studios for writing this guest blog post about her experience connecting with Yvonne, our Fundraising Manager, at Creative Black Country.

CBC enjoyed a lovely day with staff at Paycare in Wolverhampton delivering our Workplace Wellbeing Creative Workshops, which is a new initiative.

Take a look at some of the TOP TIPS that we heard from Arts Council England relationship managers at our recent Fundraising Fellowship event. If you are looking to apply for a project grant these might help…

The Fundraising Fellowship Scheme is back for 2023 and we are very happy to announce that we have a new cohort of six community organisations and projects to support over the next year.

On Wednesday 12th October we held our first funding network event in person. Kindly hosted by Black Country Living Museum in their fabulous new Visitors Centre, it was lovely to welcome around 40 people, representing creative groups and organisations from across the region.

Creative Black Country is developing a new initiative to support fundraising for arts and culture in the region for these challenging times.