Session 3: Alternative Funding via NGOs, Trusts, Foundations and Charities

Theatre and Creative Arts alternative funding from NGOs, trusts, foundations, and charities to boost your projects.

For all the sessions for the Future Artists Creative Boot Camp - Including full day pass which is 50% cheaper than individual session, then please click here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1988317285525?aff=oddtdtcreator

Session 3:

🕐 1:00pm – 2:30pm
📅 Thursday 4 June 2026
💻 Online
🎥 Live online + on-demand replay
🎟️ Tickets: Super Early Bird £6 / Early Bird £10 / Advance £15

About this event

Unlocking Funding for Theatre, Creative Arts, Digital Arts & Video Games

Trusts, NGOs, Charities & Foundations (UK) — Updated Spring/ Summer 2026

Ticket update 06/05/26 - 12 places left!

Arts Council funding is important — but it’s not the only way to get your work made.

If you’re a theatre maker, creative practitioner, producer, studio, or freelancer in the UK, this workshop is designed to help you look beyond Arts Council routes and unlock alternative funding streams that are often under-used, poorly explained, or hidden in plain sight.

At Future Artists, we’ve been using trusts, charities, foundations, NGOs, and blended funding models for over 15 years to support theatre, digital work, games, film, and interdisciplinary projects — especially when traditional funding routes weren’t available, weren’t suitable, or simply weren’t moving fast enough.

This session shares what actually works, why it works, and how to apply it to your project.

Why this matters

Funding isn’t just about survival — it’s about creative freedom, sustainability, and leverage.

Understanding alternative funding:

• Reduces dependency on a single funder
• Opens doors to longer-term partnerships
• Supports community, education, access, and innovation-led work
• Strengthens your case when applying for larger public funds later

Whether you’re early-career or well established, knowing how to navigate this landscape gives you more control over how — and if — your work gets made.

Who this is for

Relevant for creatives working in:

• Theatre & live performance
• Creative & digital arts
• Video games & interactive media
• Film & interdisciplinary projects

Ideal for:

• Artists and freelancers
• Producers and directors
• Small companies and organisations
• Anyone actively trying to get work funded in the UK

What you’ll learn

Understanding the landscape
What trusts, NGOs, charities, and foundations actually fund — and how their priorities differ from Arts Council models.

Finding the right funds
How to research and shortlist funding bodies that align with your project, values, audience, or community impact.

Writing stronger applications
What funders look for, how to frame your work clearly, and how to demonstrate value without over-claiming.

Building long-term relationships
Why funding isn’t transactional — and how to create repeatable, sustainable support over time.

Real-world case studies
How Future Artists and its network have successfully used alternative finance over the past 15 years.

Bonus: UK Funding List (Spring 2026)

This workshop has run twice previously and is now fully updated.

All participants will receive:

• A crowd-sourced, UK-wide funding list
• Trusts, charities, NGOs, and foundations
• Updated and current as of Spring 2026
• E-mailed directly after the session

This alone has saved previous participants months of research.

Event format

• Live online workshop
• Camera-off (listen in comfortably)
• Q&A via chat, focused on your project
• Session is live and recorded
• On-demand access available for 30 days

If you can’t attend live, you’ll still get full value.

Access & pricing

This workshop is subsidised by Arts Council England, which means tickets are £15 instead of £50.

Places are limited to keep the Q&A meaningful and ensure everyone has the opportunity to discuss their work.

About your host

Mark Ashmore FRSA
Founder of Future Artists
Creative producer, researcher, and funding strategist
15+ years supporting artists, companies, and creative businesses across theatre, digital arts, and immersive work

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markashmore
• Future Artists: www.futureartists.net

Mark is also available for 1-to-1 consultation after the workshop.

📩 Contact: MarkAshmoreFRSA@gmail.com

FAQ

Do I need to be on camera?
No — the session is camera-off. Q&A is via chat.

Will I get a recording?
Yes. All participants get 30-day on-demand access.

Is this only for theatre?
No. The content is relevant across theatre, creative arts, digital arts, games, and film.

As part of the Business Basics Online Bootcamp, this practical workshop will introduce creative workers, artists, producers, graduates, freelancers and early-stage creative start-ups to the world of NGOs, trusts, foundations and charities.

This bootcamp has itself been made possible through support from several foundation grants, so this is not just theory. Future Artists has used these routes in practice to support creative learning, artist development and public-facing cultural work.