We believe in the power of the arts as a force for change, and one that enriches people’s lives and communities.

We want to ensure that a wider and more diverse group of people have access to quality artistic practice, both as audiences and participants. Building on our long history of work in this area, we support organisations to test, implement and develop more effective approaches to widening access to and deepening participation in the arts. It is not enough simply to increase numbers – our emphasis is on addressing inequalities of opportunity and the systemic issues that put up barriers to access and participation in the arts.

We are particularly interested in supporting organisations that want to build meaningful relationships with people and communities, and those that prioritise partnership working within the arts and across wider sectors. We aim to enable organisations to build stronger evidence about what works, so that they can better understand and improve their practice, share learning and have greater impact.