The Freelands Foundation has opened applications for its new Learning Through Making Fund, offering grants of up to £25,000 to support innovative visual arts education projects across the UK, with two online application support sessions taking place on Thursday 9 July 2026 and Wednesday 12 August 2026. (Information on these support sessions is available below.)
The Foundation says:
“This fund is an invitation to reclaim space for experimentation, curiosity and material exploration. We want to learn what happens when organisations begin with materials, processes and play, rather than fixed outcomes, and what a small grant can unlock for artists, participants and communities.”
The Fund: Learning Through Making Fund Details
The programme aims to encourage more hands-on, creative learning by enabling organisations to explore materials, processes and making techniques in engaging and accessible ways. This support of experimental and exploratory approaches to learning means applicants do not need to have a fully defined end product during the application stage; instead, the focus is on participation and the creative process.
The fund is open to a broad range of UK-based organisations which deliver work for charitable or public benefit. Eligible applicants include registered charities, local authority galleries and museums, university-based arts organisations, Community Interest Companies (CICs), and Community Benefit Societies, provided they meet the programme’s criteria.
Funding can be used for a wide range of costs, including materials, transport, specialist expertise, access to facilities, research, or development work. Projects might include workshops, events, pilot initiatives, or the expansion of existing programmes to incorporate new hands-on elements.
Projects can take place over a flexible timeframe, from a few days to several months, but must be delivered between Friday 1 January 2027 – Friday 31 December 2027. All funded activity must take place within the UK.
Online Application Support Sessions
To support organisations with the application process, the Freelands Foundation will be running two online application support sessions, providing interested groups and organisations with an opportunity to find out more about the Learning Through Making fund and ask questions to the Foundation’s team.
The sessions will take place on:
- Thursday 9 July 2026, 10:30am – 12pm
- Wednesday 12 August 2026, 10:30am – 12pm
Recordings and transcripts will be available on the Freelands Foundation website after each session.
To book your place at either session, or for further information on the sessions, visit the dedicated Eventbrite page (linked for your convenience).
Application Deadline and How to Apply
The deadline for applications is 12pm on Friday 11 September 2026, with decisions expected on 23 November 2026. Applications are made through a simple one-stage process; applicants must download and complete the application form and submit it by email to the Freelands Foundation.
To access the application form, or for further information, please visit the Freelands Foundation website (linked for your convenience).
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