Chineke on stage a Queen Elizabeth Hall (c) Chuk

A new member of ACE's National Portfolio last year, Chineke! - pictured onstage at Queen Elizabeth Hall - is Europe’s first majority Black and ethnically diverse orchestra

Photo: Chuk

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ACE unveils details of Elevate programme to support diverse-led organisations

Diverse-led organisations that are new joiners to the National Portfolio will be able to apply for additional investment of up to £120,000 on top of their original grant offer to help with their development.

Mary Stone
2 min read

The timeline for Arts Council England’s next National Portfolio Investment Programme has been announced alongside details of Elevate, which provides developmental support for diverse-led organisations.

First launched in 2016, ACE has said it plans to run this iteration of Elevate differently from previous rounds with closer links to its National Portfolio Investment Programme 2027. 

Organisations can apply for Elevate if at least 51 per cent of their boards and senior management identify as Black, Asian or ethnically diverse ; disabled ; female ; LGBTQIA+  or from a lower socio-economic background .

Operating in three parts, the initial stage, which will run throughout 2025, will be open to all diverse-led creative and cultural organisations, offering sessions on governance, finance, risk and business models.

From April 2026 – March 2027, diverse-led organisations that are new joiners to the portfolio will be able to participate in part two applying for additional investment of up to £120,000 on top of their original grant offer to prepare to become an NPO in April 2027.

After this time, ACE says it will continue to provide support, with more information due to be published closer to the time.

ACE also plans to release information about its aims for its 2027 investment programme by the end of March 2025, followed by applicant guidance the week of 28 April 2025 ahead of an application window of 2 June – 31 July 2025.

Decisions will be shared on the week of 23 March 2026, followed by funding agreement negotiations in April, with the new portfolio starting a year later on 1 April 2027.