Last week ITC were made aware of ACE’s proposed changes to project grants due to take effect on 1^st April 2025 which could be potentially devastating to the continued survival of our sector. Thank you to all the ITC members who got in touch with us, provided evidence of impact and engaged in conversations.

To summarize the proposals were:

• Applicants would need to report on and close a grant before being able to apply for a new one
• Applicants would be limited to two eligible applications within a 12month period
• An applicant who has not previously held and managed an ACE grant (under any programme since 2016) can only apply for £30K or less

ITC wrote to ACE last week expressing concerns that these proposals risk:

• The viability of many project-funded companies who have developed business models reliant on juggling a range of projects and working outside the NPO system
• Creating an increase in demand rather than a reduction as companies would be forced to make larger bids less often
• Stifling creativity and resourcefulness
• Making the system inaccessible and inflexible (reversing all the good work done on diversity and access)
• Damaging the touring ecology even more (it is already in crisis)
• Depletion of talent and destruction of an already precarious workforce.

Since the pandemic the funding climate for smaller performing arts organizations is tougher than we have ever witnessed it. More ITC companies are reporting being turned down for project funding than ever before.

We recognize that ACE has to take measures to manage demand and reduce the number of resubmissions and failed bids but these proposals will not help.

We are relieved to have received a response from ACE saying that the proposals are on hold until September and that they intend to carry out a more in depth consultation with the sector.

We have urged ACE to engage with ITC and its members and have offered to feed into the consultation.

The quality of engagement with this issue from ITC members has been brilliant. People have put a lot of time and thought into their responses and speak from real experience.

ACE needs to take on board these responses and understand the sector better.

The most innovative and ground-breaking work comes from the independent sector. ACE needs these companies. Great ideas are precious and rare. Project grants facilitate unique creativity and need greater investment not unreasonable restriction.