We’ve been building partnerships between cultural and commercial businesses through Investment Programme for over 35 years, bringing creativity into the heart of businesses and investment to arts organisations.
Investment Programme helps organisations ignite long-term partnerships, reach new audiences, connect with communities, support business solutions, and deliver world-class arts and culture. Through Investment Programme we make amazing happen.
What is Investment Programme?
The Arts & Business NI Investment Programme is a competitive match-fund, which supports partnerships between arts organisations and commercial businesses in Northern Ireland.
Who can Apply?
All applications must be new or existing partnerships between an arts/cultural organisation and a business in Northern Ireland. This fund is open to both A&BNI members and non-members. Please refer to our supporting guidelines for full eligibility criteria before completing an application.
What do we Fund?
We help partners build sustainable long-term relationships and achieve more. An investment from this programme should allow the partnership to develop, undertake additional activity or push their project to another level. We can award up to £15,000 match-funding to the lead arts partner in a financial year; a partnership can receive investment a maximum of 2 times. A full breakdown of eligibility, investment limits and exclusions can be found in our guidelines below.
How to Apply?
Both partners should complete the application and budget form. We open submissions for this fund 5 times a year and the deadlines are as follows;
- 30 January 2026
- 27 March 2026
- 29 May 2026
- 28 August 2026
- 30 October 2026
- 29 January 2027
This is a competitive application process, assessed by a panel of judges convened by Arts & Business NI. We will notify both successful and unsuccessful applicants of the outcomes. Arts & Business NI Investment Programme is funded by Arts Council Northern Ireland.
A&BNI Investment Programme - How does it work?
A&BNI Investment Programme Guidelines
A&BNI Investment Programme Application Form
A&BNI Investment Programme Budget Form
A&BNI Investment Programme Evaluation Form
“Ulster Carpets is committed to supporting communities across many platforms and Arts & Business NI offers a broad spectrum of opportunities to facilitate this. The awarding of ‘match funding’ from Arts & Business NI’s Investment Programme was a real game changer for our music project with the Ulster Orchestra and Ceara School giving the green light for the involvement of a specialist, trained to help children with complex needs through the therapeutic use of music. The Investment Programme funding and the support of the Arts & Business NI team made a really great project truly amazing!”
COMING SOON: A&BNI FUSE FUND - OPENING IN 2026
Arts & Business NI is launching a brand-new match fund designed especially for small and micro business owners who want to connect with the arts for the first time and make a positive impact in their local area. Opening in 2026, the fund will match up to £2,000 of a small business’s sponsorship towards an upcoming creative project delivered by an arts organisation.
Partnerships could include - but aren’t limited to, sponsoring a local theatre production, visual arts exhibition, creative workshop series, or community festival. The matched funding can help bring the collaboration to life through marketing, community engagement, and creative activity. With up to 10 awards available, the A&BNI Fuse Fund aims to inspire first-time sponsors, ignite meaningful partnerships, and support creativity in communities across Northern Ireland.
Our Funders & Partners
Arts & Business NI is generously supported by The Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
