In March 2026, the North East Mayor announced £104m to support the region’s creative industries. This includes £25m to help creative businesses grow and create more opportunities for freelancers, artists and people starting their creative careers. Part of this investment is the new £2.2m Small Venues Fund.
The Small Venues Fund is intended to support grassroots creative venues and performers across the North East and it’s aims include:
- Improving venue sustainability
- Enhancing facilities
- Developing audiences
- Strengthening contributions to the local cultural economy
The support is also designed to protect and develop small venues as cultural infrastructure for artists, performers and communities.
Applications will open to permanent venues in the North East whose primary activity is delivering live creative events and performances. This includes independent theatres, concert halls and specialist performance venues hosting live music, dance, theatre, immersive art and similar activity, as well as multi-use creative venues that provide space for artists to work, rehearse, exhibit or perform. Eligible operators may be privately owned and run venues, not-for-profit organisations including Community Interest Companies and charitable trusts, or publicly owned venues managed by an independent operator.
Support will be offered through both revenue and capital awards, depending on the purpose of the request.
Revenue grants can be used for mentoring and consultancy, business planning and development, website development, bid writing support, feasibility studies, market research and marketing and promotional tools.
Capital grants can support construction works and associated costs, sound and lighting equipment, backline equipment and staging, furniture, green energy solutions, accessibility improvements and retrofit and refurbishment projects.
North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness said:
“Grassroots venues are a cornerstone to our identity, and vital for our future as a creative powerhouse. But years of tax hikes and lack of support, means it’s harder than ever for venues to stay open, let alone thrive or grow.
“This fund is about protecting the places where local talent takes its first steps and legacies are started, and where friends come together and memories are made.
“This is just part of my plan to build resilience and create opportunities across the whole creative industries in the region, from first gigs to big stages, to skills and training, and a boosting events that local people across the region can enjoy.”
Expression of Interest are currently being accepted and full applications will open this month, in the meantime you can find out more about the fund here.