Resources
Below is a brief list of useful organisational and funding resources that support community art activities. While not exhaustive, the list is currently biased towards UK-based resources.
We would like to expand this collection, so please do get in touch if you know of other relevant resources or funding opportunities we may have missed. We’ll be happy to add them.
Acting together
Acting Together: Performance and the Creative Transformation of Conflict is a two-volume work and documentary exploring how performance supports peacebuilding in regions affected by violence and social exclusion. Volume I focuses on performance amidst direct violence, while Volume II addresses structural violence and community rebuilding. Featuring global case studies, tools, and resources, it highlights the role of artists, educators, and activists in fostering justice and reconciliation. The project is linked to Brandeis University’s Peacebuilding and the Arts program and its international network..
International Community Arts Festival Library
An extensive library of media and resources that documents the processes, practices, outcomes and research, directly from the global community arts field.
National Guild of Community Arts Educators
Founded in 1937, the National Guild for Community Arts Education is the USA’s only national service organisation dedicated to community arts education. Serving over 400 members across 46 states and diverse disciplines, the Guild supports equitable access to arts learning through partnerships with schools, healthcare providers, and community organisations. It offers resources, professional development, and networking opportunities to strengthen organisations and advance the practice of community arts educators. Membership operates on a “pay what you can” basis.
Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts
The Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts unites leading European arts philanthropic foundations to support and advocate for socially engaged arts. Recognising the power of arts and culture to inspire change, promote inclusivity, and address societal challenges, the alliance provides resources and a collective voice for arts organisations. In a climate of limited recognition and funding, it aims to strengthen these organisations’ ability to foster resilient, fairer communities and contribute to a more connected, creative Europe.
Arts Council England
Arts Council England supports culture and creativity through a rolling programme of strategic plans aligned with government priorities. Cultural organisations and projects are treated as delivery mechanisms for the current policy agenda. Successful funding applications require extensive reporting and compliance, which can absorb a significant portion of the awarded funds. Prospective applicants are advised to closely reflect the current plan’s aims and objectives, avoiding creative reinterpretation as adherence to the strategic plan is prioritised over artistic ambition. The Arts Council also offers access to a wealth of information and reports including links to other funding sources.
Arts Council England Other Funding
Arts Council England provides a useful list of alternative funding sources
Cultural Bridge
Funding programme for socially engaged project links between UK and Germany
Charity Excellence Framework
Charity Excellence Framework is a free membership organisation that provides UK charities with access to an extensive online database of funding opportunities and other useful resources.
Commun
COMMUN was founded in response to the inequalities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly those affecting marginalised communities. It is a multi-arts organisation dedicated to community building and supporting emerging and mid-career Global Majority creatives. Through events, development programmes, digital media, and learning tools, COMMUN fosters collaboration and understanding. It offers resources including grant databases, online courses, and cultural content via subscription plans. Aiming to challenge structural inequality, COMMUN promotes inclusive and participatory practices, compassionate storytelling, and educational support. Its circular framework builds connected networks, striving to amplify Global Majority voices and deepen empathy across society.
MIAAW.Net
The website contains over 200 podcasts that vary in length from 20 to 70 minutes. They cover community, creativity, cultural democracy and the commons and come in three sorts: interviews, conversations, and audio-essays. Each has a show page with notes and links. They are sorted by series and tags.
Collective Encounterts
Creative Encounters is a blog dedicated to community and participatory arts, run by Collective Encounters, an arts charity specialising in theatre for social change. The blog complements their free participatory theatre programmes across the Liverpool City Region, offering insights, resources, and learning opportunities for artists, academics, and activists. Focused on inclusivity and collaboration, Creative Encounters supports critical inquiry and community development through creative participatory research, fostering connections between individuals, organisations, and communities committed to social change through the arts.
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