Please read these guidelines carefully

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

AIMS:  What does the Trust seek to achieve?

  • Through its grant making, the Trust seeks to sustain and support high quality artistic activities that add to the cultural life and experiences available in the UK, with a special interest in Wales and Welsh artists.
  • The funding focus is particularly, but not exclusively, directed to support projects of excellence.
  • Other areas may also be supported on occasion, at the discretion of the trustees.
  • The majority of grants will be in the range of £5,000 to £30,000.
  • Larger grants are generally only awarded to organisations where a funding relationship with the Trust has been developed over several years.
  • Larger grants are more likely to be offered to fund activities that deliver strategic initiatives, and that would be unlikely to occur without the assistance of the Trust.

ELIGIBILITY: What does the Trust expect from applicant organisations?

  • Applicants must be UK Registered Charities and activity to be funded must be in the UK.
  • Quality and excellence in the relevant field
  • A good track record in financial and project management with sensible business plans, and realistic budgets with reasonable costs.
  • At least one full year of independently assessed accounts.
  • Organisations should demonstrate a commitment to effective fundraising, and optimising income from all available sources.

EXCLUSIONS: What is specifically excluded, or is unlikely to be funded?

  • An organisation may only apply for one grant, in any one financial year.
  • The Trust will only consider applications from fully UK Registered Charities.
  • It will not consider applications from “Friends of…… charities.
  • Retrospective funding will not be considered.
  • The Trust is unable to accept applications from individuals or for individual research or study.
  • It will not consider funding for conferences and seminars, or general appeals.
  • The Trust will not fund activity that takes place outside the UK, even if the organisation is UK registered.
  • Social and community welfare organisations, where the dominant purpose is not arts, will not normally be supported.
  • Community arts projects and performances by amateur groups will not generally be considered.
  • Capital or refurbishment projects will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.
  • Commercial recordings other than those benefiting the careers of emerging or mid-career Welsh composers.

PRIORITIES:  What type of activity is the Trust most likely to fund?

  • Projects that demonstrate excellence in terms of the creative ambition – through the quality of the artistic product, the calibre of the participating artists, and the value of the artistic experience for audiences and participants.
  • Projects designed to develop new audiences and make the art form more widely accessible.
  • Distinctive, high-quality festivals and events, that impact beyond a purely local level.
  • Projects that help to fill an existing gap in artistic provision in Wales.
  • The commissioning of new work, particularly to develop the careers of emerging and mid-career Welsh artists, when professional presentations of the work form part of the project.
  • Projects that may assist organisations to increase their financial sustainability.
PROCEDURE Stage 1
  • Organisations interested in making an application to the Trust should download and complete an expression of interest form and send to the Trust by email; colwinstontrust@colwinston.org.uk.  Eligible applicants will then be invited to submit a formal application in either March or September.
  • You should allow a minimum of 4 months between an application deadline, and the onset of any activity for which funding is requested.
PROCEDURE Stage 2
  • If you are invited to submit a formal application this will need to be supported by a covering letter on the headed notepaper of the organisation and a one page project budget
  • Only one other item of supporting information may be included with the application.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

  • Please note that the Trust office operates on a part- time basis.
  • Applications will only be considered if the documents are presented in English.
  • Please submit any Application documents to the Trust by email; colwinstontrust@colwinston.org.uk 
  • Applicants may be contacted to discuss applications or to request additional information before presenting to the trustees.
  • Applications deadlines;  31 March (Trustee Meeting in May) and 30 September (Trustee meeting in November).
  • Grants are subject to agreement to the Trust’s standard Terms and Conditions.
  • At the discretion of the Trustees, organisations in receipt of multiple grants from the Trust may be asked to take a break in applying for funding.
  • Trustees decisions are final and the Trust is unable to enter into dialogue with unsuccessful applicants.

Guidelines Updated 1/07/2026