Apply to apply to Culture Recovery Fund, says ACE

Applications for a share of £20m of Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) money have opened with a new pre-application stage.

Arts Council England (ACE) is now asking applicants to request permission to apply "due to the time sensitive nature of this programme".

"This will also allow us to make decisions at a quicker pace once applications are submitted and we aim to communicate outcomes to organisations within six weeks," a spokesperson said.

Applicants that previously scored 'not met' on cultural significance may be barred from applying to apply, the application guidance says.

The programme is only open at this stage to organisations that have not received CRF grants before. A separate 'continuity support' strand for previously funded applicants will open with a new funding pot later in summer.

Despite £218.5m being available for this latest CRF round, ACE's budget is just £20m. Other arm's length bodies will administer some of the £218m; for example, the National Lottery Heritage Fund is distributing £40m in its latest round.

CRF Round 3 grants range from £25,000 to £3m, though commercial organisations' are capped at £1m.

Permission to apply closes midday September 30.