The Baring Foundation: Funding for creativity, mental health and people from ethnically diverse backgrounds

Overview

They wish to fund activity to redress the under-representation of participatory artists from ethnically diverse communities in offering creative opportunities to people living with mental health problems.

Type and size of grant

Grants will be made to support this work of £10k - £40k. They can fully or partially fund the work. Work should take place over at least one year and preferably longer. The work must take place in the UK. Our resources cannot support work that is already funded but can support the extension or expansion of work. Their funding can support two approaches:

1. The first approach is around positive action and is to find ways to attract participatory artists from ethnically diverse communities into this area of work and to support them. Examples might include shadowing, internships or apprenticeships, or mentoring or free training opportunities. Always ensure that you stay within the guidance of what is permissible under the law for positive action. If you feel unclear about what is legally permissible, their funding can pay for reasonable legal fees.
2. The second is to undertake activity to offer creative opportunities to members of specific ethnically diverse communities who have mental health problems. There are a number of examples of such work in their report Creatively Minded and Ethnically Diverse. Their funding is not for qualified arts therapy.

Finally, any combination of these approaches is acceptable.

They anticipate that this fund will be highly competitive and oversubscribed. They will have at least £500k available and may well make 15 or more grants. Their funding in the field of arts and mental health will continue for many years and will evolve.

Eligibility

Applications will only be considered from arts organisations with all the following characteristics:

• an established arts organisation of any kind (including museums) whether a charity or a regulated social enterprise, e.g. a Community Interest Company. By arts organisation they mean an organisation whose primary purpose is around the arts and creativity broadly defined. Importantly some applicants will wish to work in partnership with relevant community groups and to share resources which they encourage;
• arts organisations that have delivered creative opportunities to people with mental health problems for at least two years;
• arts organisations that are committed to striving for racial justice in their work;
• an arts organisation which has an extensive track-record in working with ethnically diverse communities or an arts organisation with less experience but a commitment to improve.

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