The 2025/2026 Achates Community Bursary Programme is Open!
Achates Community is dedicated to supporting cultural sector professionals with the knowledge, skills, and resources we need to excel in our roles and be catalysts for meaningful change within our organisations and the broader cultural sector, through our purpose-led and audience-informed approach.
We’re excited to announce the 2025-2026 Bursary Programme for Achates Community, our revolutionary platform and biggest evolution to date! At Achates, we’re dedicated to ensuring our services are as equitable as possible, and this new round will provide even more opportunities for cultural sector professionals to access free one-year memberships.
Designed to offer tailored support to all cultural sector income generation professionals, Achates Community promises to redefine how we support and empower the unsung heroes of our sector. Our comprehensive approach, offering support and learning, the Purposeful Leader Programme, and vibrant community and networking spaces, will enable us to navigate challenges within the sector, seize opportunities and lead with integrity.
Bursary Programme Details
This year, we are offering 52 one year Bursaries to Achates Community. All Bursary applicants will receive a minimum of a free three-month trial irrespective of outcome*.
Our allocation of the bursaries is as follows:
● up to 5 places for each for the England regions of the North, Midlands, South West and South East
● up to 8 places each for London, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
Eligibility Criteria
We want to ensure that our programme is as accessible as possible, so eligibility for a Bursary is on the basis of the following criteria**:
● Cultural sector employees with an annual organisational turnover below £250,000
● A registered Charity, CIC, non-profit organisation or individual artist working in the cultural sector
● Non-NPO/Statutory (governmental) funded organisation
● A commitment of at least 2 hours per month to engage with the platform and maximise your Bursary award
Please note, cultural sector consultants and freelancers other than creatives are not eligible.
Application Process
Applicants will be scored on the basis of meeting the above criteria and a short statement articulating how the bursary will contribute to your personal and organisational development and impact.
Application Deadline
Applications for the Achates Community Bursary Programme closed on 8th August 2025 and winners will be announced in September 2025.
The list of those awarded Bursaries to Achates Community in 2024 is here.
*Joining the Achates Community costs £50 p/month for a minimum 12 month subscription or £500 upfront annual payment. To get access to Achates Community you will need to sign up to our platform and enter your payment details. Payment will not be taken until your free 3-month trial ends. We will remind you when your trial is due to come to an end and you can cancel within 14 days of your first payment.
** Previous applicants are not eligible to apply, nor applicants from organisations that are currently in receipt of a bursary.
