These organisatiions can provide creative practitioners with general advice about funding options open to them.

•   29 September Crafts Council
  address

  44a Pentonville Road, London, N1 9BY
  telephone

  020 7278 7700
  fax

  020 7837 6891
  email

  info@craftscouncil.org.uk
  email

  busdev@craftscouncil.org.uk
  website

  http://www.craftscouncil.org.uk
  website

  http://www.photostore.org.uk/seSIMP.aspx?TYPE=CRAFTSCOUNCIL

  The Crafts Council's National Register of Makers provides the most comprehensive listing of contemporary craftspeople in Britain. Registration is free and open to any contemporary craftsperson living and working in Great Britain, who designs and makes their own work. Those working in illustration, fine art, painting, restoration, conservation, reproduction and sculpture are not eligible for inclusion. The Register is used by members of the public wanting to contact individual makers, as well as shops, galleries, designers and businesses looking for new work. As well as the Register, the Crafts Council manages a Development Award, business advice unit, reference library and desk, and the Photostore, which contains over 35,000 images of work for viewing by potential clients. The Register is non-selective; Photostore is selective. Development Award - Annual deadlines are 1 March, 1 June, 1 September and 1 November. Endeavours to support new creative practices in England and candidates must either be about to, or within three years of, setting up their first workshop. The grant is given in two parts; maintenance grant of GBP 2,500; equipment grant of 50% towards purchase and hire of essential equipment and tools, up to GBP 5,000. In deciding the level of grant, other grants received towards the setting up of business will be taken into account.

•   29 September Artists' Advisor for performance and theatre artists
  website

  http://www.ovalhouse.com/
  telephone

  020 7582 0080
  email

  michael.atavar@ovalhouse.com
  contact

  Michael Atavar
  address

  Oval House Theatre, 52 - 54 Kennington Oval, London SE11 5SW

  Run by Michael Atavar, the Artists' Advisor is an advice and information service for artists working in theatre and performance. Principally it supports new and emerging artists and has an emphasis on cultural diversity, including disability. The service is free and open to theatre artists working in all areas of London. Particularly encouraged are practitioners who have made some work but haven't been in receipt of public funding and who may feel unsure about how to get their work seen in professional venues.

•   29 September GrantsNet
  website

  http://www.grantsnet.co.uk

  GrantsNet gives information about grant schemes available to businesses and charities in the UK. You will find comprehensive information about grant support schemes for UK businesses and charities. GrantsNet aims to reduce the efforts and costs, of identifying and applying for a grant.

•   29 September IFA Promotions
  website

  http://www.unbiased.co.uk
  telephone

  0117 971 1177

  Gives out details about financial advisors in your locality, who can give you guidance on insurance, loans, investments, savings and pensions, you also get a voucher for a free half hour consultation

•   29 September Moneymap from DCMS
  website

  http://www.culture.gov.uk/moneymap/

  Funding schemes that are open to creative businesses as an alternative to bank or other traditional business financial support.

•   29 September Portobello Business Centre
  website

  http://www.pbc.co.uk
  telephone

  020 7460 5050
  email

  pbc@pbc.co.uk
  address

  2 Acklam Road, London W10 5QZ

  Offers training and funding for business start up for residents of North Kensington.

•   29 September Social Enterprise London
  email

  info@sel.org.uk
  website

  http://www.sel.org.uk
  fax

  020 7704 7499
  address

  1a Aberdeen Studios, 22-24 Highbury Grove, London N5 2EA
  telephone

  020 7704 7490

  Useful web site explaining about social entrepreneurship, businesses in the community which provide a service, social, educational or cultural. Offers information on training, and access to finance.

•   29 September The Directory of Social Change
  email

  info@dsc.org.uk
  website

  http://www.dsc.org.uk
  fax

  020 7209 5049
  telephone

  020 7209 5151
  address

  24 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2DP

  The Directory of Social Change is an independent voice for social change, set up in 1975 to help voluntary and community organisations become more effective. They do this by providing practical, challenging and affordable information and training to meet the current, emerging and future needs of the sector. Their main (and most useful) activity is researching and publishing reference guides and handbooks to grant making trusts, foundations and companies in the UK and overseas. Check their website for details on organisations making substantial donations, but also for 'small grants' (usually up to £5,000).

•   29 September Arts Council England - London
  website

  http://www.artscouncil.org.uk
  telephone

  0845 300 6200
  address

  14 Great Peter Street, London SW1P 3NQ

  London\'s Government-funded visual art and crafts funders, Arts Council England supplies monies via its Grants for the Arts programme, recently cut by 35% in the face of money being redirected by government to the Olympics, making this even more competitive. In 2003/04, Grants for the Arts distributed £1.78 million to individual artists working in London through 316 awards (and £7.4 million to organisations through 445 awards, and £4 million for touring through 97 awards). In all, ACE received 2,500 application, including some that were ineligible. ACE are currently working to encourage more applications from freelance curators, project organisers and critics, who are currently under-represented in the funding allocation. Eligible projects include research and development, travel (including international), networking events and independent projects. They are also keen to support activities promoting critical debate on the production and presentation of contemporary visual art; for example, events, seminars, conferences, publications (paper based / electronic), periodicals, catalogues and artists\' books.

•   29 September Government Grants website
  website

  http://www.governmentfunding.org.uk

  Online route to grants for the voluntary and community sector from the Department for Education and Skills.

•   29 September Association of Charitable Foundations
  website

  http://www.acf.org.uk
  email

  acf@acf.org.uk
  address

  2 Plough Yard, Shoreditch High Street, London EC2A 3LP

  ACF's website has downloadable copies of their advice leaflets, facts and figures about trusts and foundations, and links to all known trust and foundation websites, UK and international umbrella bodies, and other useful resources for grant-seekers.

•   29 September Financial Services Authority Consumer Help Line
  website

  http://www.fsa.gov.uk
  email

  consumerhelp@fsa.gov.uk
  telephone

  0845 606 1234

  When you have been given the details of a financial advisor you can check they are registered with the Financial Services Authority on this Consumer Help Line.

• making applications
• developing your practice
• money
• making new work
• earning a living
• sustaining your practice
• CV
• artist statement
• writing about your work
• artists biog