Grants

The Rushlake Green Little Arts initiative was established in 2016 to encourage participation in and enjoyment of the arts in our rural community. It is run by a volunteer group, the Little Arts Project Group. Two festivals that were organised under the Little Arts banner, one in 2016 and the other in 2024, raised enough funds to further support artistic activity in a number of ways. The Little Arts Grants Scheme is one of these, and is directed at stimulating the development of creative skills and involvement in the arts in young people who are resident in Warbleton Parish.

Up to £400 annually will be available through the Scheme.

Aims

• To encourage and support artistic expression and creative excellence in a young person or groups of young people under 26 years of age.
• To support the development of a young person’s skills and creativity in an arts discipline.
• To enable a young person or a group of young people to engage in artistic activities that will stimulate their creativity and enjoyment of the arts.

Who is Eligible – two categories

Category 1: Any young person who is resident in Warbleton Parish and is between 6 and 25 years of age at the time of application.

Category 2: A professional artist/organisation wanting to deliver an arts programme/activity to groups/classes of young people residing within a three mile radius of Rushlake Green.

Eligible Arts Disciplines

Architecture, Art History, Ceramics, Conceptual Art, Creative Writing, Dance, Digital Art, Fashion, Film making, Furniture making, Interior Design, Metalwork, MusicPerforming Arts, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Textiles, Theatre, Visual Art.

Timeframe for 2025:
Applications Open: 1 May 2025
Deadline for Applications:  30 June 2025

What we will support
(the types of things that can be supported are not exclusive to those described below):-

Category 1 – If you are a young person wanting to apply:
– Learning new skills through education, professional training, courses or residencies~
– Materials, tools and equipment, or travel costs directly associated with learning new skills in one or other of the above eligible disciplines.
– Portfolio development.
– Fees, licences
– Developing markets or audiences for your work.

Category 2 – If you are a professional individual/organisation:
– Materials, tools and equipment, professional artists’ fees, rent or other overheads necessary for the delivery of your programme/activity in one or other of the eligible arts disciplines.
The direct beneficiaries of the programme must include young people who are living in Warbleton Parish at the time of the application.

What you will need to provide

Category 1 – If you are a young person wanting to apply

• A completed application
• Evidence of your commitment to your chosen arts discipline(s). This may take the form of examples of your creative work to date (photographs/videos/audio files are acceptable), letters from teachers/professionals who have been involved in your learning so far, or other documentary evidence of your creative skills and artistic interests.
• Copies of offer or enrolment letters, qualifications, transcripts, or CV, etc.
• A letter from someone – either a teacher, parent or other responsible adult – who can support your application by attesting to your commitment and/or creative skills.

Category 2 – If you are a professional individual/organisation

• A completed application.
• Evidence of professional qualifications and experience in the eligible arts discipline.
• Letter from the school/delivery facility (host organisation) in support of your application, if relevant. The letter should include i) confirmation that the host organisation complies fully with Safeguarding legislation and ii) specific information about the number of young people resident in Warbleton Parish who will benefit.

Selection process
A panel comprising representatives from the Little Arts Festival Project Group and Warbleton Parish Council will assess completed applications against the programme criteria. Applicants may be invited to attend a meeting with the panel to discuss their application. All eligible applications will be scored and the panel will make the final decision on grant awards. Applicants will be informed of the outcome of the process in the last week of August. The decisions of the panel will be final.

2025 Programme Timeline

If you are awarded a Grant
The names of organisations or professional artists receiving a grant under the programme will be published locally and may feature on the Little Arts Festival website and social media pages. The  names of individuals receiving a grant will be supplied to any relevant local educational institution and Warbleton Parish Council.

A grant will be repayable in most cases if a grant-aided activity is cancelled.

We will want to know how beneficiaries have got on, and will expect them to complete a feedback form when the funded activity has been completed.

Need help?

Please contact the Little Arts Festival Project Group if you have questions about the process or need particular help in completing your application. Email us at: thelittleartsfestival@gmail.com

How to submit your application  

Simply download the application form below and return it, along with any accompanying materials:
– Email it to thelittleartsfestival@gmail.com
– or post it to: Little Arts Festival, c/o Allis Farm, Flitterbrook Lane, Rushlake Green, Heathfield, TN21 9QH.

LAF Grant Application V 2.3w download