North East England 2027–29 Events Fund: £10,000–£500,000 for Creative and Cultural Events
North East England: a new round of the Mayor's Events Fund
The North East Combined Authority is inviting expressions of interest for its Mayor's Events Fund, supporting significant cultural, creative and community events planned between April 2027 and March 2029 in North East England. Applications for this round close on 26 November 2026. This could be relevant for organisations developing visual-art festivals, public installations, creative technology demonstrations or multidisciplinary events, provided these projects meet the fund's real event criteria. It is not a standalone international digital-art prize or an unrestricted grant to individual artists.
Funding range and process
The Combined Authority reports that more than £6 million will be available for its 2027–2029 events funding programme, with individual funding requests ranging from £10,000 to £500,000. Both amounts refer to the programme's published funding framework; neither guarantees an award. Applicants first submit an expression of interest. Selected proposals will then be invited to develop a full business case, and only subsequently may a funding agreement be offered.
Eligible organisers and place-based outcomes
The programme invites established festivals, cultural organisations, creative producers and community-led event organisers. Applications should make a case for bringing audiences together, celebrating local communities, showcasing talent and generating meaningful regional outcomes. A creative technology team wanting to stage a public media-art event should consider its event partners, audience, deliverability and North East regional connection. Producing digital content without an eligible event is not necessarily an eligible activity.
Past activity and the funding authority
The organiser is the North East Combined Authority, a public regional governance body. The authority identifies earlier supported examples such as North Shields 801, NEXT! Big Thing for emerging creative talent, Sunderland Stages: BLENDS, Durham Reads and other community cultural activities. These previous programmes illustrate breadth but are not an endorsement or an award commitment for any 2027 applicant.
Timeline and email submission
Expressions of interest are due by 26 November 2026 and should be emailed to eventsfund@northeast-ca.gov.uk using the official expression-of-interest form and eligibility guidance. The authority anticipates inviting shortlisted applicants to develop full business cases in January 2027, followed by grant agreements and mobilisation from March 2027. The website gives this timeline as its current plan, not a guaranteed individual decision date.
North East Combined Authority – Mayor's Events Fund official programme, forms and deadlines
This article provides an overview. Review the complete eligibility and assessment documentation before submitting any expression of interest. Information checked 20 October 2026.
Visual art and digital creativity opportunities
Aion Laboratory official website