Challenge and Innovation Fund

The Challenge and Innovation Fund aims to support small scale projects that help diversify the funded cultural activity in the borough.

We are looking to fund projects that engage underrepresented communities, focus on young people, or test new ways of working.

If you think you have a project that offers innovation and challenge to the existing cultural activity of the borough we want to hear from you.

Eligibility

To be eligible for funding, your organisation must:

• Provide services or activities benefiting the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and its residents
• Be not for profit and constituted
• Have at least three unrelated, non-cohabiting board members or trustees
• Be financially solvent
• Have been in operation for at least two years

Refer to the Challenge and Innovation Fund guidance notes for details on eligibility and who can and cannot apply.

What you can apply for

We support projects that fit within one or more of the following categories:

• Visual arts, theatre, dance, or music
• Combined arts - including outdoor arts, festivals, and carnivals
• Literature or spoken word
• Film and video, or digital
• Place based public realm
• Museums, collections development, and community history
• Cultural activity in parks and green and blue spaces
• Cultural activity relating to sports, health and wellbeing

We fund projects that help us deliver Culture Richmond, but we don’t want to be too prescriptive.

We want new ideas, to hear what organisations need, and how they think our funds can help them develop within this framework.

Above all we want people to be involved in the cultural life of Richmond upon Thames.

How to apply

Read the Challenge and Innovation Fund guidance notes carefully to ensure your project is eligible for funding before you apply.

Complete the Challenge and Innovation Fund application form. The form is a word document that be read and completed using assistive technology.

Submit the application form to artsinfo@richmond.gov.uk by Sunday 6 July 2025.

Information sessions

We will be holding online events for organisations to find out more about the Challenge and Innovation Fund and the support available. The sessions will last approximately 1 hour.

Event dates:

• Thursday 15 May at 2pm
• Thursday 22 May at 2pm

To sign up to attend one of the events, email artsinfo@richmond.gov.uk with your preferred date, your name and organisation and we will be in touch with a Microsoft Teams meeting link shortly before the event.

Contact

If you would like to talk to someone about your project or application please email artsinfo@richmond.gov.uk.