GM Arts Access Bursaries

In partnership with Stockport Council, GM Arts is offering bursaries of £200 for freelance creative practitioners in Stockport and Greater Manchester.

These bursaries are here to support your growth by making it easier to attend workshops, training, and networking events, or to access professional development opportunities.

The bursary is not aimed at supporting the purchase of hardware or equipment.

This funding is open for applications until January 2025.

Who can apply?

We recognise that financial barriers can significantly limit access to professional development opportunities for freelance creative practitioners. The GM Arts Access Bursaries are designed to support those who find it challenging to cover the costs associated with attending networking, training, or other professional development events.

We aim to cover expenses that may be overlooked by other funding sources, including, but not limited to, travel, accommodation, and caregiving costs.

Our goal is to reduce financial pressures so that creative practitioners can focus on expanding skills and networks, irrespective of personal or economic circumstances.

Please note: GM Arts Access Bursaries are designed to assist those who genuinely need financial support. If you're comfortably able to cover these costs without assistance, we kindly ask that you leave this opportunity for those who need it most. This makes sure our resources support those for whom such financial assistance can make a significant difference in accessing professional development opportunities.

For all successful bursaries awarded, invoices, receipts and proof of purchases are required.

What kind of proposals will we fund?

The GM Arts Access Bursaries aims to fund lots of different ideas to support artist development, such as:

  • collaboration opportunities with other artists or creatives
  • exhibition or performance opportunities
  • industry conferences and seminars
  • mentoring sessions
  • networking events
  • online courses and webinars
  • portfolio reviews
  • professional coaching
  • question and answer sessions with industry experts
  • rehearsal or studio opportunities
  • research trips
  • travel costs
  • residencies and artist retreats
  • training workshops or courses

How long will it take to get a decision?

A panel will be held to make decisions on the last week of each month. The next panels will be on:

  • 28 November 2024 to judge applications received by 27 November 2024
  • 7 January 2025 to judge applications received by 6 January 2025

You’ll hear back from us on whether we’re able to support your request for a bursary on or before the last week of the month.

If you've been successful, you'll need to submit documentation to support your application. Your bursary will be paid within 30 days after we receive this.

Depending upon what the bursary is funding, we may decide to make a purchase and send confirmation instead of awarding the bursary directly.

Whilst the fund is open until the end of January, all activities for which the bursary will fund must take place before the end of February 2025, as evaluation and monitoring must be completed by March 2025.

You'll be asked to complete an evaluation form as part of the acceptance process.

Please consider these time frames carefully when applying.

What happens after I apply?

  1. We'll review your application and then send it to the decision board for evaluation. You can expect an answer within 3 weeks of your application.
  2. If your application is successful, we’ll send you an email to give you the good news and to ask for bank details so that we can begin processing your bursary. In the instance tickets are purchased, we'll make this purchase for you and send you the tickets.
  3. If your application is unsuccessful, we’ll email you to let you know.
  4. Once you receive the money, you can get going. You should spend the funding the way you said you would in your application, and before February 2025.
  5. We’ll get in touch around the time you said your proposal will be delivered. We'll ask for receipts for the items and services you bought with the funding and some photos of what the money was spent on, and we'll ask you to complete a short survey.

How to apply

To request an application pack, or to ask any questions that haven’t been answered by this guidance, email us at underbanksth@stockport.gov.uk.