Webinar: 22 April
Workshop: 29 April, 2026
Join Relationship Manager Hannah Bentley for an online webinar to learn more about Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants, followed by an interactive in-person workshop exploring how applications are assessed and decisions are made.
National Lottery Project Grants (NLPG) is an open access funding programme for arts, libraries and museums projects. The fund supports thousands of individual practitioners, community groups and cultural organisations. Grants are available for projects between £1,000 and £100,000.
If you’re an artist, creative freelancer, or arts and culture organisation interested in applying for NLPG, join our two-part webinar and workshop to find out what the grants involve, what kinds of activity they support, and how to strengthen your application to increase your chances of success.
The webinar: Wednesday 22 April, 12.00 to 1.30 PM
Online via Zoom
In this session, Hannah Bentley will provide an overview of NLPG and cover:
- An outline of the fund and the kinds of activity that can be supported
- Eligibility criteria
- The application process
- What access support is available before and after you apply
- Tips to help you strengthen your application
- Timelines and application processes
The workshop: Wednesday 29 April, 1.00 to 3.30 PM
In person, Bradford Arts Centre
This practical, interactive workshop will:
- Explore the NLPG assessment process in more depth
- Give you a taster of what it’s like to sit on a decision-making panel
- Develop approaches to writing a strong application
- Provide time and space to ask questions
By the end of the session, you will:
- Have a clearer understanding of how NLPG decisions are made
- Leave with practical ways to strengthen your application
- Gain learning that can be applied to other funding applications and funder relationships
Please note: To attend the in-person workshop, you must attend the online webinar the week before, as this is essential preparation. To make the most of the workshop, there will be some information to read in advance. This will be sent a few days beforehand and should take no more than a couple of hours.
Who this workshop is for
This series is for anyone eligible to apply for Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grants. For guidance on eligible projects, visit artscouncil.org.uk.
If you’re unsure whether your idea is eligible, you’re welcome to join the programme to explore it further in line with NLPG guidance.
Book now
Places are free but limited, so booking is essential.
To participate in the in-person workshop, you must attend the online webinar or watch the recording in advance. It is possible to attend the webinar only, particularly if workshop places are full.
If you have not attended the webinar or completed the advance reading, you will not be able to participate in the in-person workshop.
Webinar
Workshop
Meet the host
Hannah Bentley
As a Relationship Manager with Arts Council England, in addition to supporting a portfolio of organisations and offering advice and development support for individuals and companies – Hannah has enjoyed developing sector-support projects such as Artistic Director of the Future’s Diversifying Boards and Board Shadowing Programme (The Stage Innovation award), Governance and Inclusion webinars with Business Disability Forum and Access All Areas and working with Sheffield’s African Heritage Culture Forum.
Hannah has worked across production, producing, touring and consultancy, starting at the Royal Court as Production Assistant and moving to the Barbican, where she was part of BITE – the renowned international programme and co-producing with Michael Clark, Bobbie Baker, Lone Twin, Ridiculusmus, SPILL Festival and Oxford Samuel Beckett Award. During this time, Hannah co-founded her own theatre company, which toured work to London, Edinburgh, France and Germany, and she was awarded the Solt Stage One Independent Producer Bursary. As Executive Director for Actors Touring Company (ATC), Hannah worked with Artistic Director Bijan Sheibani to produce and tour ATC’s work nationally and internationally, receiving Olivier Award nominations and awards, including the Young Vic co-production of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s The Brothers Size and Royal Court’s co-production of Bola Agbaje’s Gone Too Far! Productions fed into and grew out ATC’s youth participation and artist development programme which was based in East London but delivered projects and commissioned new work with national partners including the Bristol Old Vic, Theatre Royal Plymouth and Oxford North Wall and across London with the Albany, Arcola, Rich Mix, the Gate, Soho, Royal Court, Young Vic, and Hackney Empire.
Hannah was a trustee with Pacitti Company, advisory member for Stage Sight, and access advisor/panellist on YouTube Digital Theatre Fund. Hannah has mentored individuals through Step-Change, Creative Access and Change 100 programmes.
Hannah lives in Leeds with her daughter, and is a qualified Coach (ILM Level 5) and Trustee/Treasurer for Manuel Bravo Project (a charity who provide pro bono legal support for asylum seekers and refugees in West Yorkshire).
About the venue
Bradford Arts Centre
Formerly Kala Sangam, Bradford Arts Centre is Bradford’s new place to meet up, get more creative, and be wowed by South Asian and contemporary performance.
FAQs
We can’t provide bursaries for these sessions. We hope you feel these sessions are a worthwhile investment of your time if you are planning to apply for a Project Grant from Arts Council England.
Yes. We can cover travel and other access costs that may otherwise present a barrier to participating in this event.
Access costs may include childcare or other caring responsibilities; BSL, language or other interpretation; access support workers; or any other reasonable adjustments you require.
To apply for this funding, please complete our Access Fund Request Form once you have registered for this event. This form must be completed before the event takes place.