For artists & arts workers living or based in the East Midlands
Deadline: Wednesday 20 August 2025, 11pm
Responses: Friday 29 August 2025, 5pm
Bursary: £2500
CVAN EM’s Bigger Bursary opportunity builds on a pilot programme in 2024-25 which saw five £1500 bursaries awarded to artists from each of the region’s counties. CVAN EM will now award one larger bursary of £2500 to an artist or arts worker living or professionally based in the East Midlands.
This change to our bursaries scheme has been made following a review of the pilot programme conducted with our Steering Group and 2024-25 bursary recipients. By offering a bursary that better supports applicants’ time and skills we hope to go some way towards acknowledging the energy artists and arts workers put into applying for creative opportunities and funding.
CVAN EM’s Bigger Bursary supports the development of ambitious activity with a focus on the visual arts[1]. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to contemporary art[2] and can be artists or arts workers wanting to develop their practice.
1-2-1 mentoring with CVAN EM’s Director will also be available to the bursary recipient.
What can CVAN EM’s Bigger Bursary support?
Bursaries can contribute towards or fund the following:
- R&D (your time)
- Production
- Fabrication
- Mentoring
- Match funding (for other applications/opportunities)
- Skill development
- Seed funding
- Purchase of equipment
- Making new work
- Access support
- Event delivery
- Workshop delivery
- Collaboration
- Studio rent
- Community engagement
- Professional training
- Or a combination of the above
Please consider the limitations of the bursary funds available and fair pay for you and your collaborators when developing your project outline and budget.
Who can apply?
- Applicants must be living or professionally based in the East Midlands (Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire or Rutland)
- Applicants who demonstrate a commitment to contemporary art.
- Applicants wanting to fund ambitious activity with a focus on the visual arts.
- Applicants can apply as an individual or collective.
- Applicants can be PhD candidates.
- Applicants who have applied for previous rounds can apply.
Who cannot apply?
- Applicants currently completing an undergraduate or postgraduate course are ineligible.
- Applicants who received a CVAN EM Bursary in 2024-25 are ineligible.
- Organisations are ineligible.
If you have any questions or require this information in a different format, please email colette@cvaneastmidlands.co.uk.
For more information on the application process please download an application pack:
CVAN EM’s Bigger Bursary Application Pack PDF
CVAN EM’s Bigger Bursary Application Pack DOCX
CVAN EM’s Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form DOCX