Arts, Culture & Heritage
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Community Foundation North East

Newcastle Cultural Investment Fund Report 2025-2026

The Newcastle Cultural Investment Fund's 2025-2026 impact report, published by Community Foundation North East, marks almost 15 years of investing in the city's cultural ecology: GBP 500,000 awarded to 40 organisations this year, reaching 135,376 beneficiaries and leveraging a further GBP 610,000.

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About

Community Foundation North East grows giving and philanthropy to strengthen communities across North East England. The Newcastle Cultural Investment Fund, managed by the Foundation for almost 15 years, invests in the city's cultural sector to enable residents to access culture and support the six themes of Newcastle's cultural strategy.

Key Metrics

Grants awarded this year GBP 500,000 was awarded in 2025-26 to 40 organisations, 10 of them new to the fund, across venues, cultural hubs, festivals and grassroots organisations.
Beneficiaries reached 135,376 beneficiaries were reached through funded cultural activity across Newcastle in 2025-26.
Further funding leveraged Funded organisations leveraged a further GBP 610,000 on the back of NCIF support this year.
Cumulative investment GBP 1,710,607 has been invested over almost 15 years of sustained support for Newcastle's cultural sector.
Sessions and attendance Funded project activity included 917 sessions with total attendance in activities reaching 10,496.
Core portfolio expanded A new three-year core funding round began in April 2025, expanding the portfolio to 28 organisations working across a wide breadth of art forms.

Key Outcomes

  • Contribution evidenced across the six themes of the city's cultural strategy: Health & Wellbeing, Environment, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, Prosperity, Opportunity and Place.
  • Grassroots and diverse voices supported, from a creative writing project for 60 women in Newcastle's west end to a creative mentorship programme for 15 looked after children and care leavers aged 14-25.
  • Residents enabled to access culture as participants, audiences and makers, making Newcastle a healthier, happier and more prosperous place.

Geography

North East

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