Seeds of Change
Seeds of Change is our annual £10,000 prize fund supporting projects that make a measurable difference to how the sector approaches income generation, putting sustainability at the heart of creative decision making.
Congratulations to our three 2025 finalists – The Art House, Fuel Theatre and The Hepworth Wakefield. The winner will be announced at an exclusive event at the Design Museum on 15 September.
The 2025 Finalists
With Thanks to Our Sponsor
Seeds of Change 2025 is supported by Mission: Net Zero, helping travel, tourism and cultural organisations build and deliver environmental and social sustainability strategies, including Net Zero roadmaps, while showcasing their commitment to social value and community impact.
Such a wide range of ideas from organisations of differing sizes, all united by a passion for sustainability, and an eagerness to positively grow community engagement, economic impact, and synergy with the environment.
Louise Kirby, Director of Operations & People, The Deep
Meet Our 2024 Seeds of Change Winner
The inaugural Seeds of Change prize fund was awarded to Edinburgh based gallery Fruitmarket to support Future Makers, an innovative mentoring programme investing in the future of eco-conscious making, selling and buying.
The programme is now successfully supporting a group of local makers to create bespoke products that are ethically and sustainably produced, developing community-minded commercial practices as well as generating income.
Read more about the project and how it’s progressing here.
More About the Prize
1. Foster Sustainability: Encourage cultural organisations to incorporate sustainable practices in their income generating operations and project delivery, reducing their environmental impact and promoting a more sustainable future.
2. Community Engagement: Support projects that actively engage local communities, providing educational and interactive experiences that raise awareness of sustainability and empower individuals to adopt sustainable practices.
3. Innovation and Collaboration: Encourage the use of innovative materials and technologies in the design and delivery of commercial cultural projects, fostering creativity and pushing boundaries to achieve sustainable outcomes.
4. Legacy Building: Equip cultural organisations with the necessary tools, knowledge, and resources to develop and deliver sustainable projects, promoting long-term sustainability within the sector.
2. Community Engagement: Support projects that actively engage local communities, providing educational and interactive experiences that raise awareness of sustainability and empower individuals to adopt sustainable practices.
3. Innovation and Collaboration: Encourage the use of innovative materials and technologies in the design and delivery of commercial cultural projects, fostering creativity and pushing boundaries to achieve sustainable outcomes.
4. Legacy Building: Equip cultural organisations with the necessary tools, knowledge, and resources to develop and deliver sustainable projects, promoting long-term sustainability within the sector.
You can apply for any amount of funding up to £10,000. The prize fund supports:
1. The establishment or significant enhancement of a new sustainable income stream.
2. Commissioning research or consultancy to support the introduction of a sustainable income stream.
3. Buying equipment or services to lower carbon emissions.
4. Creating tools to communicate and educate visitors in environmental responsibility e.g. marketing and design.
1. The establishment or significant enhancement of a new sustainable income stream.
2. Commissioning research or consultancy to support the introduction of a sustainable income stream.
3. Buying equipment or services to lower carbon emissions.
4. Creating tools to communicate and educate visitors in environmental responsibility e.g. marketing and design.
Cultural organisations that are Members of the Association for Cultural Enterprises and situated in the UK are eligible to apply, as well as Associate Members.
We are looking to support a new initiative or to significantly enhance an existing one.
Proposed projects should have a clear focus on sustainability and align with the program objectives.
The project should clearly demonstrate how it will contribute to sustainable income generation or making your organisation more financially secure.
Projects should have a defined timeline, demonstrating the ability to be completed within the allocated funding and time frame.
Applications must outline the intended impact on any of our objectives and engagement with the project.
Organisations should demonstrate their capacity to deliver the proposed project successfully.
The fund can support existing staff in delivery of the project, but must not cover core expenditure.
We are looking to support a new initiative or to significantly enhance an existing one.
Proposed projects should have a clear focus on sustainability and align with the program objectives.
The project should clearly demonstrate how it will contribute to sustainable income generation or making your organisation more financially secure.
Projects should have a defined timeline, demonstrating the ability to be completed within the allocated funding and time frame.
Applications must outline the intended impact on any of our objectives and engagement with the project.
Organisations should demonstrate their capacity to deliver the proposed project successfully.
The fund can support existing staff in delivery of the project, but must not cover core expenditure.
Applications open 12 November 2024.
Applications close 28 March 2025.
Winners will be chosen by the Association for Cultural Enterprises from all complete entries received before the closing date. The decision of the Association for Cultural Enterprises regarding any aspect of the competition is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into.
Winners will be announced at an exclusive event in June 2025.
While the project outcomes and impact may exceed 12 months we expect the prize fund to be invoiced within the first year.
We will issue the prize fund within 30 working days of the Prize Fund Deed of Grant being received.
Applications close 28 March 2025.
Winners will be chosen by the Association for Cultural Enterprises from all complete entries received before the closing date. The decision of the Association for Cultural Enterprises regarding any aspect of the competition is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into.
Winners will be announced at an exclusive event in June 2025.
While the project outcomes and impact may exceed 12 months we expect the prize fund to be invoiced within the first year.
We will issue the prize fund within 30 working days of the Prize Fund Deed of Grant being received.
We have referenced the UN Sustainable Development Goals while developing the award. We would recommend reading goals 8, 9, 11, and 12 from the UN sustainability goals when making your application.
Goal 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth (Sustainable Tourism & Green Economy)
Goal 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Goal 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities (Sustainable Transport)
Goal 12 Responsible Consumption and Production (17% of total food waste is wasted at the consumer level)
Goal 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth (Sustainable Tourism & Green Economy)
Goal 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Goal 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities (Sustainable Transport)
Goal 12 Responsible Consumption and Production (17% of total food waste is wasted at the consumer level)
Seeds of Change supports the wider Arts Council England’s Investment Principle: Environmental Sustainability and Dynamism. The Association is an Investment Principles Support Organisation (IPSO).
Environmental Sustainability – Demonstrating how you will embed environmental thinking in everything you do, from operations and logistics toconsidering how creation, programming and partnerships can help support your commitment and provoke debate.Collect, analyse and communicate your environmental data.
Demonstrate how this project contributes to your wider environmental commitment.
Provide relevant training from your data, experiences and outcomes with your team and the wider sector.
Dynamism – Responding to the challenges of the next decade and creating a business model that is flexible and able to adapt to changing environments. Understanding the value upi create for the communities you serve, whilst considering the needs of those you are yet to reach. Demonstrate how you will take an entrepreneurial approach to developing and optimising your income streams and innovate your business model.
Recognise the diverse knowledge, skills and experience within your team and commit time and resources to continue to develop your team.
Use data to aid strategic decision making, to share with the wider sector and ensure that skills and confidence is built up across your organisation.
Environmental Sustainability – Demonstrating how you will embed environmental thinking in everything you do, from operations and logistics toconsidering how creation, programming and partnerships can help support your commitment and provoke debate.Collect, analyse and communicate your environmental data.
Demonstrate how this project contributes to your wider environmental commitment.
Provide relevant training from your data, experiences and outcomes with your team and the wider sector.
Dynamism – Responding to the challenges of the next decade and creating a business model that is flexible and able to adapt to changing environments. Understanding the value upi create for the communities you serve, whilst considering the needs of those you are yet to reach. Demonstrate how you will take an entrepreneurial approach to developing and optimising your income streams and innovate your business model.
Recognise the diverse knowledge, skills and experience within your team and commit time and resources to continue to develop your team.
Use data to aid strategic decision making, to share with the wider sector and ensure that skills and confidence is built up across your organisation.