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Date: 26 Mar 2025
Residents are being invited to put forward their ideas for creative projects in their community for the chance to receive funding that could see their ideas become reality.
The ‘Bank of Ideas’ gives people the chance to decide how £50,000 of funding should be used in their area, by choosing their favourite suggestions from concepts submitted by individuals, schools and community groups.
All creative ideas are welcome – everything from recycling and sewing to bird watching and skateboarding!
Information and ‘idea generating’ workshops will take place across the city throughout April and early May to support individuals and groups to develop ideas and prepare their applications.
Submitting an idea is easy and can be done online by the deadline of 5pm on Wednesday, 14 May. Application forms can also be submitted by post or email. For details on workshop dates and booking, and to suggest a project, visit belfastcity.gov.uk/culturefunding
Applicants meeting the scheme’s criteria will be invited to showcase their ideas at a special voting day in City Hall on Sunday, 29 June 2025, where members of the public can come along and vote for their favourite ideas.
A minimum of 25 projects will receive support of up to £2,000 each to make their concepts a reality between July and end of November.
Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray, explains: “We’re currently working with local arts and cultural venues, producers and artists on how best to bring Culture Night back to the city, and the Bank of Ideas is another example of how we’re listening to our sector on how best to embrace creativity and use the arts to bring people together.
“This scheme was a really successful part of last year’s Belfast 2024 programme, so we’re opening up the invitation to residents once again to get involved and share their ideas for local creative projects.
“We welcome all suggestions for something creative to happen in the local community. It could be an interest you’d like to share such as gardening, a mending and repair social event, a storytelling session about the history of your street over the years, perhaps something you’d like to change with the help of your neighbours, or any fun activity that brings people together.
“Everyone will get the chance to come into City Hall on Sunday, 29 June and vote for the projects they want to see delivered, giving communities a direct say in how the £50,000 of funding available through the ‘Bank of Ideas’ should be spent. Getting involved is really easy and I’d urge as many people as possible to put forward an idea – let’s see what creative ideas you can come up with for your community and help make them happen this year."