Fusion Pioneer Area funding programme 2016/17

We are offering funding to cultural and heritage bodies in order to deliver valuable activities in our most deprived communities.

This funding is offered as part of the Fusion Pioneer Initiative, which was developed following a report by Baroness Kay Andrews OBE to find ways in which cultural and heritage bodies can work more closely together to broaden access to, appreciation of and participation in, culture in ways that contribute to reducing poverty.

Find out more about the Fusion programme.

The opportunity

There are currently 10 Pioneer Areas in Wales working to promote new ways of bringing arts, cultural and heritage partners and Communities First organisations and communities together.

From Fort to Pit to Port celebrates the shared cultural and social heritage of the Cardiff Capital Region but specifically involves two clusters in the Cardiff area and one in Merthyr Tydfil. These are:

• BRG Communities First consisting of Butetown, River side and Grangetown
• Cardiff West (ACE) Communities First consisting of Ely, Caerau, Fairwater and Pentrebane
• North Merthyr Tydfil, consisting of Gurnos, Gulan Uchaf, Dowlais, Pant and Pennydarren

We are the lead for this Pioneer Area and we invite cultural organisations to propose activities that will support the plans of the Communities First clusters involved.

The Cardiff and Merthyr Fusion Fund will be available to aid in the delivery of activities that make the most of the benefits of cultural involvement for those living in our most deprived communities.

Eligibility

The From Fort to Pit to Port fund will award funding to arts and heritage organisations for activities that support people living in the above Communities First Clusters within the City and County of Cardiff and in North Merthyr Tydfil.

We particularly welcome proposals that are pilots used to test approaches that could be scaled up or used as the basis for further funding.

All applicants must demonstrate how they will work with Communities First Cluster partners. If successful you will put in touch with the relevant Communities First cluster representative/s.

Deadlines

• The deadline for application submissions is 18 November 2016.
• Applicants will be informed of the decision on their proposal by 25 November 2016.
• Activities should be completed by 28 February 2017.

Finance details

Projects will be eligible for grants up to the value of £3,000. Funds can be used to reimburse all costs associated with the project including: equipment hire, venue hire, purchase of materials associated with project delivery.

The grant will not cover the costs of staff who are already fully funded but may cover contracts for additional staff such as artists or people working in community development.

Funded organisations will be expected to provide resources in kind such as access to their archives, staff time and equipment.

Applying

Everything you need to apply is contained within the application pack.