Closing date: 28 November 2025, 11:59 pm (midnight)
Seed Corn Grants offer funding of between £500 and £5,000 to support early-stage, exploratory projects that aim to spark new ideas and innovative approaches to community engagement with heritage. These grants are particularly designed to help organisations test concepts, build partnerships, or pilot activities, with a strong emphasis on experimentation and learning. There will be two application rounds for Seed Corn grants, and the panel will review applications within two months of the application deadline. Eligible applicants include community groups, galleries, libraries, archives, and museums and other heritage organisations across the UK. Eligible costs could include:
- Staff time or freelance fees for project delivery
- Materials and supplies for workshops, exhibitions, or events
- Venue hires or equipment rental
- General organisational overheads or core running costs
- Travel and subsistence for project participants
- Community consultation or co-design activities
- Digital tools or platforms to support engagement
- Evaluation and documentation of pilot activities
You will also gain access to a dedicated skills development and training programme, offering a wide range of learning opportunities tailored to the unique challenges faced by organisations and practitioners in the sector. This will be made available to all applicants, whether successful or not. You will be able to expect interactive workshops, expert-led webinars, and collaborative activities designed to strengthen professional skills, encourage peer networking, and share best practice. The programme will be shaped by feedback from local communities and sector partners, ensuring its relevance and practical value to those taking part. The programme is still in development and more details will be published on our website in 2026.
For comprehensive criteria and application details, please visit https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/community-hub/seed-corn-grant/how-to-apply/ pages.
