Arts and Culture opportunities

On these pages we'll post details of current arts, culture and heritage opportunities offered by Coventry City Council, which may include call outs for commissions, grant schemes or events of particular significance for the Coventry cultural sector.

We recommend checking this page for updates and new opportunities.


For items of interest and opportunities from further afield subscribe to the Arts, Culture & Heritage e-newsletter [https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKCOVENTRY/subscriber/new?topic_id=UKCOVENTRY_291].

Arts and Culture Business Booster

The Business Booster is a bespoke training programme that will support creative freelancers and small cultural organisations in Coventry to develop key skills needed to grow their creative practice.

With courses ranging from bid writing to policy development and media skills, the programme is designed to build sustainability in the city’s cultural sector through focused upskilling. Funded through a grant from the WMCA, the programme will run through November and December, offering over 20 diverse training events with places for more than 300 participants across the programme.

Explore the Arts & Culture Business Booster programme [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/businessbooster]

Arts, Culture and Community Mixer Event

Sorry but this event is now fully booked. If you would like to be added to a waiting list to be contacted in the event of cancellations, please email your details to artsdevelopment@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/service/Arts__Culture_and_Community_Mixer_registration] with "Mixer Event Waiting List" in the subject line.


You are invited to the Arts, Culture and Community Mixer

We know that Coventry is a city of diverse cultures, narratives and aspirations, and we’re interested in how we support inclusive, collaborative and ambitious cultural and community organisations, already working hard to effect change across our city. This is your invitation to join us.


The event has been organised by Coventry City Council for up to 80 organisations and creatives to come together to explore how we move forward as collective forces for positive, proactive change across the city, for all of the communities we care about and serve. This activity is funded through the WMCA Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund.

As part of this event, we will be exploring the Arts Council England Creative People and Places [https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/creative-people-and-places-0]programme; this is an exciting opportunity for Coventry to attract up to £1 million into the city, with partners in local areas empowering residents to support them to decide what kind of creative activity they want to experience on their doorstep.

We will have inspiring presentations and panels from existing Creative People & Places programmes, as well as a leading bid writer to talk about their experiences in putting together successful bids.

We are seeking representatives from a mix of arts, culture, heritage and community organisations, who are interested in collaborative working and potentially being part of a funding bid.

There are no prerequisites or prejudgements.

So, whether you’re a leading, publicly funded arts organisation or a grassroots volunteer-led youth group, you’re invited into this space.

You may have already collaborated in this way and have insights that will add value to this collective conversation; you may have never thought about working in this way or simply not had the access or agency to before.

Regardless of experience, you’re exactly who we need.

We’ll also be creating lots of space for chat and networking, and we’re committed to sharing event outcomes with the wider creative community. Plus, we have a limited number of bursaries available to support freelancers, small organisations or unwaged/volunteers who may not ordinarily be able to attend.


FREE to attend, lunch and refreshments included.

When: Thursday 21 November, 9:30 am to 1:00 pm

Where: Coventry Central Hall, Warwick Lane Coventry, CV1 2HA

Are You Volunteer Ready?

Sharing Best Practice: Creating and Sustaining a Successful Volunteer Programme

Volunteering in the arts, culture and heritage sector can have a positive impact on people’s wellbeing by reducing symptoms of mental health conditions, improving life satisfaction, contributing to skills, academic studies and personal development, and strengthening social networks. For organisations volunteers offer an opportunity to connect with communities at a deeper level, to support your work with extra resource, and gain from the added skills and experiences derived from engaging with a diverse range of residents.


On this training session specially created for Coventry based arts, culture and heritage organisations, you will learn tips and best practice to develop an effective volunteering strategy, helping to embed volunteering as a key component of your organisation's activities.

Brought to you by Coventry City Council and EnV [https://env.uk.com/] with funding from the West Midlands Combined Authority's Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund

Topics covered

  • Introducing volunteers;
  • The volunteer journey;
  • Recruiting and attracting volunteers;
  • ‘PORT’ (Promoting; Onboarding; Recruiting and Training) top tips and recommendations;
  • Being volunteer ready;
  • Retaining and rewarding volunteers.

Dates: Two sessions are available, on Wednesday 4 December or Thursday 5 December

Time: 10am to 1pm

Venue: Dame Ellen Terry Room, St Mary's Guildhall, Bayley Lane, Coventry, CV1 5RN

To book please complete the registration form [https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/service/Volunteer_training_registration_form] before 25 November. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.