The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the delivery of events and festivals across York, with events and festivals scheduled to take place in 2020 and 2021 not taking place as planned, or entirely shelved. At the same time, local arts, cultural and community organisations have seen their finances negatively impacted by the pandemic as lockdowns restrictions and social distancing has halted their programme of activities and income generation.   

Recognising this challenge, City of York Council made available £100k from its Additional Restrictions Grant Allocation to support events and festivals to take place across York. This fund has been well received and utilised. On 2 February 2022, it was approved that a further £50k allocation from the Council’s Additional Restrictions Grant Budget would be provided to Make it York to support a broader range of festivals and events to take place across York.  

The purpose for this grant funding is to support the delivery of events and festivals which would have happened in previous years but were impacted in 2020 and/or 2021 by the Covid-19 pandemic, and new events and festivals led by York-based organisations who have been negatively impacted by the pandemic and therefore unable to fund the overall costs of such activities themselves.  

Grant funding comes from the Government’s ARG fund, and is provided by City of York Council to Make It York, to be delivered in consultation with the Executive Members for Culture & Communities and Economy & Strategic Planning, to support York’s economic recovery from Covid-19. 

Organisations across the city can apply for grant funding to support events taking place in 2022 that have been negatively impacted during the Covid-19 pandemic, focusing on events and festivals which would have happened in previous years but were impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, and new events and festivals across York that may be struggling for funding as a result of income lost during the pandemic.  

York-based organisations, charities and groups who run events may apply for the Events and Festivals Grants Scheme, with grants of up to £10,000 available.   

Events and festivals applying for the grant funding must demonstrate the following:  

• Evidence that your event has been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic: demonstrating that the event has been delayed/ timelines affected, with evidence of financial losses/ reduced income OR how your new event has been negatively impacted by the pandemic and therefore you are unable to fund the overall costs of such activities yourselves 

• How funding for this event/ festival will support economic/ wider recovery from Covid-19 
• How this event/ festival will support residents and communities 
• How this event/ festival supports the aims and vision of the York Culture Strategy, York’s Creative Future, 2020-25   
• How this grant funding will support the event to become more sustainable in future years.
  
  Applications will not be accepted if:

• Your business does not have a fixed business premises in York, or you’re not currently trading in York
• Your business is not able to demonstrate that it has seen a reduction in income on normal trading/ funding during the current coronavirus pandemic  
• Your business has ceased trading 
• Your business is in administration, insolvent, or has a striking off notice made against it.

Make It York will follow up with all successful grantees to do due diligence around the funding process. In addition, MIY will do monitoring and evaluation of each event and also promote through their high-profile marketing and communications channels.  

Where an organisation is not a member of Visit York, Make It York will also provide a one-year membership package to the grant recipient through the ARG fund, to ensure these events reach their maximum potential target audiences and generate high attendance in support of their core aims.   

Please note: should the Events and Festivals Grants Scheme receive a high volume of applications, events and organisations that have not previously received funding through the ARG fund will be prioritised.  

The Events and Festivals Grants Scheme provides small grants to support events and festivals, with the goal of making them more sustainable. Grants will be considered on a case-by-case basis and grants of up to £10,000 will be made. Applications for smaller amounts are welcome.  

Please note, as this is a small fund and we anticipate high demand, the maximum grant amount of £10,000 will only be provided in exceptional circumstances, where there is substantial evidence to support the application, including rigorous evidence of the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and if relevant, of inability to run the event during the pandemic.  

Your application can include one or more costs. For example (this is not an exclusive list): 

• Training for volunteers 
• Freelancer costs 
• Insurance 
• Set up costs 
• Equipment and/or storage 
• Venue hire 
• Printing/leaflets/publicity 
• Transport 
• Teleconference membership 
• Costs in recording and presenting to demonstrate impact 

Activity not supported by the funding: 

• Core staff costs (wage support is not permitted) 
• Activity which has already taken place 
• Capital expenditure not directly related to the event / festival.
• Activity taking place after 31 December 2022
• Costs not linked to a festival or event taking place in 2022

Complete the application form below by 5pm on Thursday 7 April.  

Applications will be assessed and an award decision made by Thursday 21 April.  

If successful, you will receive a grant agreement to be signed and returned. On receipt of this, the grant will be paid into your account in full on or following Friday 6 May.