Applications for the third edition of the Award for Civic Arts Organisations are now open. The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (UK Branch) invites cultural organisations across the UK to apply.

This edition will spotlight organisations that are helping communities thrive, even in the most challenging contexts. Recipients will be outstanding examples of how organisations can work in and with communities to address their needs and concerns, deepen relationships, and use arts and creativity to enable positive change.

The Award offers one prize fund of £100,000 and two of £25,000. In highlighting the practice of a few organisations, the Award seeks to incentivise the wider arts and cultural sector to embrace its civic role.

The Award recipients will be proposed by an independent panel of judges, chaired by Baroness Bull (Deborah Bull), Crossbench Peer, House of Lords. Panel members are Darren Ferguson, CEO/Founder, Beyond Skin; Ica Headlam, Founder, We Are Here Scotland; Philipp Dietachmair, Head of Programmes, European Cultural Foundation; Rachel Noel, Head of Programmes and Partnerships, Tate; Rhiannon White, Co-Artistic Director, Common Wealth Theatre; Saad Eddine Said, CEO/Artistic Director, New Art Exchange and Sydney Thornbury, CEO/Artistic Director, The Art House (main recipient of 2022 Award).

Louisa Hooper, Director of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (UK Branch), said:

“The Award for Civic Arts Organisations is designed to support cultural projects that put community at their hearts. In difficult times, it’s more important than ever that art and culture are available to everyone.”

Sydney Thornbury, CEO/Artistic Director of The Art House and main recipient of the previous Award said:

“The stability the Award provided has deepened the work we were already doing and has opened up new opportunities for how we can further extend our civic impact.”

Applications close at 13:00 on 25 November.