taking our culture forward

To mark our 40th anniversary we have set up a special fund to award an additional £40,000 in grants relating to Manx culture. The fund is separate to our ordinary grants scheme, and aims to support bigger ideas, especially those that embrace innovation and change, with some element of online delivery or reporting, ideally within 2022.

Applications can be made for a grant of either £2,500 or £5,000 for a project relating to the Isle of Man and its people in one of the following categories:

  1. Archaeology
  2. History and law
  3. Industrial development
  4. Language and literature
  5. Architecture
  6. Music, folklore and folk dance
  7. Arts and crafts
  8. Natural history and ecology

In the event that no suitable applications are received for a category, we may choose to make multiple awards in other categories.

Here is Dr Breesha Maddrell, Director of Culture Vannin talking about the types of projects that will be given priority, and giving some examples of projects that would fit the remit of these special grant awards:

You might like to consider the following:

  • development of a special body of work
  • a new way of sharing and promoting existing material
  • using collections or archives as an inspiration for new creative work
  • projects which bring the past, present/future into dialogue.

Suggested outcomes could be: New collaboration; Public engagement; Development of a cultural trail; Creative project; Workshops; Biosphere related projects; Research, fieldwork or excavation; A pilot project for a larger idea; Restoration e.g. of heritage transport; Development of educational resources; Publication, podcast, recording, short film; An idea of your own...

The closing date for applications is Monday 14th February 2022.

Please note:

  • Applications for the ordinary grants scheme remain open for the March meeting, and should be the route for any projects which are not for the two specific amounts listed in the 40th anniversary scheme. 
  • Wherever possible, the project should be delivered within 2022, if only in part, and must be completed within a maximum of two years.
  • Awards will be reviewed and then ratified by the Board at their March 2022 meeting. Should that meeting date change, updates will be made here. Applicants will be notified of the decision within 10 working days of the March meeting.
  • Terms and conditions for our grant schemes apply - please see the application form for full details.
  • Our review process is here.

How to apply:

  • More information can be found in the downloads on the right, where you can find the special grant application form in a variety of formats which includes the terms and conditions for these awards. Any enquiries should be directed to the Operations Officer.
  • Please email us your grant applications and appendices, preferably as one single PDF. This is particularly helpful when the supporting material is extensive.
  • It is essential that you fill in each section of the form, adding supporting information where necessary as an appendix. Incomplete forms will not go before the Board.
  • If the electronic submission does not include a signature, then a signed hard copy should also be posted to: Culture Vannin, Fairfield House, Main Road, St John's, Isle of Man IM4 3NA.

Downloads