The North East Mayoral Strategic Authority has announced the Mayor’s Small Venues Fund, delivered as part of the Mayor’s wider investment work for culture, creative industries and sport.
The fund is intended to support grassroots creative venues across the North East. Its aims include improving venue sustainability, enhancing facilities, developing audiences and strengthening contributions to the local cultural economy. The support is also designed to protect and develop small venues as cultural infrastructure for artists, performers and communities.
Grants will be available from £3,000 to £100,000. Support will be offered through both revenue and capital awards, depending on the purpose of the request.
Applications are open to permanent venues in the North East whose primary activity is delivering live creative events and performances. This includes independent theatres, concert halls and specialist performance venues hosting live music, dance, theatre, immersive art and similar activity, as well as multi-use creative venues that provide space for artists to work, rehearse, exhibit or perform. Eligible operators may be privately owned and run venues, not-for-profit organisations including Community Interest Companies and charitable trusts, or publicly owned venues managed by an independent operator.
Revenue grants can be used for mentoring and consultancy, business planning and development, website development, bid writing support, feasibility studies, market research and marketing and promotional tools.
Capital grants can support construction works and associated costs, sound and lighting equipment, backline equipment and staging, furniture, green energy solutions, accessibility improvements and retrofit and refurbishment projects.
Expressions of Interest may be made throughout the summer ahead of the fund opening for full applications in September 2026.