Metal is working with Arts Council England (ACE) to host a series of talks and open advice sessions about how artists, creatives, community and voluntary groups can apply for a Project Grant to fund their work. ACE are keen for more people from the Peterborough and Fenland area to apply.

On Friday 7 June, we’re offering free sessions for global majority* artists who live and/or work within our local area (Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, and surrounding villages). This session will be supported by local artist Yvonne Hercules along with a member of the Metal team. These sessions will have an Arts Council project Grant focus, but will be led by you and what you’d like to discuss, which might include:

– Talking through a project idea
– Deciding which Arts Council funding stream is right for you
– Budget development or reading draft applications
– Discussing your creative practice
– Building relationships with different organisations, voluntary groups, partners or venues to support an application

About Yvonne Hercules
Yvonne Hercules is a singer-songwriter/artist & performer based in Cambridge UK. Her music has received nods from publications including Clash Magazine, The Line of Best Fit, Afropunk, and others and she has received support from PRS Foundation, Arts Council England towards her work. Inspired by Folk, Blues, Rock & Soul, her songs are a culmination of these genres underpinned by honest, thought-provoking lyrics. She also draws on inspiration from visual mediums outside of music including art & film, with visual concepts often coinciding alongside her songs.

How to book
We’re offering these sessions in person at Chauffeurs Cottage, as well as the option to discuss your work with us online. There is one session available per artist and the slots are 1 hour long.

Sessions will be open on a first come first served basis. Book your free place here. When booking on the session, please also let us know of any access requirements you may need.

This ACE Project Grant open advice session will prioritise artists and creatives who are global majority, we are also holding further ACE Project Grant open advice sessions that prioritise d/Deaf, disabled, or neurodivergent people as well as a session open to all. These sessions are being held in response to research and findings from ACE (Arts Council England) which show a lower number of funding applications made by people existing within these underrepresented groups.

There are more Project Grant Open advice sessions here:
Thursday 23 May: ACE Project Grant Open Advice with artist Kate Marsh, for d/Deaf, disabled, or neurodivergent artists

*What do we mean by Global Majority?
By Global Majority, we mean people with African, Caribbean, Latin American or Asian heritage including mixed heritage.