Grant opportunity
UKRI Connecting Culture Fund 2026
The Connecting Culture Fund supports short interdisciplinary projects that connect bioscience research with arts, humanities and cultural practice.
- Funder
- UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
- Applications close 30 September 2026 at 4:00pm UK time
- Applications close 30 September 2026 at 4:00pm UK time: Sep 30, 2026
- Award
- GBP 5,000 to GBP 100,000 at 100% full economic cost; GBP 309,000 total available
- Applicant
- Invitation-only proposals led or co-led by a BBSRC strategically funded institute, with other eligible UK research organisations able to participate as partners.
- Discipline
- Arts, Culture and Creative Industries
- Region
- United Kingdom
- Posted
- Jul 27, 2026
Call summary
Overview
This invitation-only fund enables BBSRC strategically funded institutes and cultural or research partners to test ideas at the boundary of bioscience, arts and humanities.
Who can apply
A BBSRC strategically funded institute must lead or co-lead. Other UK organisations that meet UKRI eligibility requirements may participate as partners. Applicants must follow the invitation and opportunity-specific rules.
What it supports
- Interdisciplinary collaboration between bioscience, arts and humanities.
- Pilot activity, engagement and creative research approaches.
- Projects that develop new relationships and routes to cultural or societal impact.
Funding and duration
- Projects may request GBP 5,000 to GBP 100,000.
- Awards are funded at 100% full economic cost.
- The total available budget is GBP 309,000.
- Projects may run for three to 12 months.
Applications close 30 September 2026 at 4:00pm UK time
Applications close 30 September 2026 at 4:00pm UK time: Sep 30, 2026
How to apply
Eligible invited teams should submit through the UKRI Funding Service by 30 September 2026.
Call details
Source-based overview
UKRI's Connecting Culture Fund supports compact, experimental collaborations between bioscience institutes and arts, humanities or cultural partners. The round is invitation-only and is intended to generate new interdisciplinary relationships, methods and pathways to impact.
Eligibility
A BBSRC strategically funded institute must lead or co-lead. Other UK organisations that meet UKRI eligibility requirements may participate as partners. Applicants must follow the invitation and opportunity-specific rules.
Funding and benefits
Projects may request GBP 5,000 to GBP 100,000.
Awards are funded at 100% full economic cost.
The total available budget is GBP 309,000.
Projects may run for three to 12 months.
Themes and supported activities
Interdisciplinary collaboration between bioscience, arts and humanities.
Pilot activity, engagement and creative research approaches.
Projects that develop new relationships and routes to cultural or societal impact.
Deadline and timeline
Applications close 30 September 2026 at 4:00pm UK time: Applications close 30 September 2026 at 4:00pm UK time: Sep 30, 2026.
Applicants should confirm the exact deadline time, time zone, required documents, portal steps and any institutional approvals on the official call page before submitting.
How to apply
Eligible invited teams should submit through the UKRI Funding Service by 30 September 2026.
Before applying, check eligibility rules, budgets, attachments, page limits, partner requirements, cost-share conditions and whether the opportunity uses an expression of interest, full proposal, registration or nomination stage.