Small Grants Programme supported by The Linbury Trust

Theatres Trust's Small Grants Programme, supported by The Linbury Trust, funds small projects that make a big impact to a theatre’s resilience, sustainability, accessibility or improving the diversity of audiences.

This scheme provides grants of up to £5,000 for essential works to enable not-for-profit theatres across the UK to be viable and thrive in the future.

Eligible projects include small capital works, the installation of key plant and machinery and works which make theatre buildings digital-ready. 

This scheme will prioritise improvements to buildings that protect theatre use and remove barriers to participation and attendance.

Please note that revenue and survey costs are ineligible. This fund is to support improvements and repairs to the building fabric, and the key plant and machinery or the purchase of key equipment (not software) to improve digital infrastructure.

Who can apply

To be eligible to apply to the scheme, applicants must demonstrate that they:

• own or manage theatres with titles or signed leases of more than five years on buildings in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland 
• run a year-round programme of live performance, of no less than 30 performances a year 
• have a bona fide UK charitable or not-for-profit legal structure and be able to provide certified or audited accounts for at least two years

How to apply

Please apply using the application form below. Please refer to the guidance notes when making your application.

The latest round closed for applications on 12 January 2024. 

Please note that after the deadline, it will be up to 3 months before decisions are made.

The deadlines for the next rounds are as follows:

• 12 noon on 7 June 2024
• 12 noon on Friday 17 January 2025

Applicants are advised to read the guidance notes before making an application. We recently held a webinar about applying to this grant scheme, which you may also find helpful to watch before applying.

Watch the webinar Applying to our Small Grants Programme.

Unfortunately due to the high volume of applications we receive, we can no longer give advice pre-application.

With thanks

The Small Grants Programme was launched thanks to the generous support of The Linbury Trust as well as donations from Judy Craymer CBE and Charles Michael Holloway Charitable Trust. In autumn 2022, the Mackintosh Foundation committed to £150,000 over five years to the scheme.