Collaborate Fund
Supports cross-sector cultural collaborations in Greater Manchester, United Kingdom by funding projects across districts and public partners.
⚠This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.
The Collaborate Fund is a £300,000 strategic investment by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) designed to foster innovation and cross-sector collaboration among culture, creative, and heritage organisations and individuals across Greater Manchester. The 2025 cycle targeted projects that drive progress in six thematic areas: Health & Wellbeing, Economy & Innovation, Education & Skills, Environment, Placemaking, and Safe Spaces. The fund prioritises proposals demonstrating how working across sectors can create lasting sustainability for Greater Manchester's cultural and creative industries, with funded projects required to involve partners from at least two different GM districts.
The £300,000 2025 pool was distributed across three tiers: four grants of up to £25,000 each (£100,000 total), two grants of up to £50,000 each (£100,000 total), and one grant of up to £100,000 (£100,000 total) — totalling seven awards. The lead applicant must be working within the culture, creative, or heritage sector. Core operational costs and ongoing activities are explicitly excluded; applications must describe projects that are new and distinct from current regular operations. Cross-sector partnerships with businesses, educational institutions, or technology companies are encouraged alongside the cultural lead.
The 2025 cycle used a two-stage process: Expressions of Interest (EOI) opened 24 February 2025 and closed 17 March 2025, after which shortlisted applicants were invited to submit full applications by 18 April 2025, with outcomes communicated on 25 April 2025 and projects starting from 5 May 2025. The 2025 cycle is fully closed. Annual recurrence is expected, but a 2026 cycle had not been announced as of the available source dates. Applicants for a future round may submit EOIs via Microsoft Forms and may also apply by video submission (up to 4 minutes, via YouTube or Vimeo link).
Cross-sector cultural collaboration projects in Greater Manchester that involve partners from at least two GM districts and address themes such as health, economy, education, environment, or placemaking.
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