Cockayne Grants For The Arts

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Estimated £1-2 million+ (variable)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 6-7 months (July deadline to February announcement)
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £100,000
• Geographic Focus: London only (all boroughs)

Contact Details

Website: https://cockaynefoundation.org

Email:

• General inquiries: info@cockaynefoundation.org
• Administrative/procedure questions: admin@cockaynefoundation.org
• Application support: applications@londoncf.org.uk

Phone: 020 7582 5117 (via London Community Foundation)

Executive Director: Jo Hedley

Note: Meetings to discuss applications are initiated and scheduled by Cockayne.

Overview

Established in 2014, Cockayne is a private foundation based in San Francisco with a special interest in supporting the arts in London. It is one of the successor foundations of Columbia Foundation, the ground-breaking philanthropic foundation founded in 1940 by Madeleine Haas Russell. From 2025, Cockayne recommends funding through a donor-advised fund (DAF) held at The Prism Charitable Trust (charity number 1099682). The foundation's mission is to “support art as a way of enriching life experience,” with particular focus on innovative artistic work and projects involving artists from diverse cultures. In 2024, the foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary with 10 exceptional grants of £100,000 each, plus 65 additional awards, demonstrating significant investment in London's arts sector.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Cockayne Grants for the Arts - £1,000 to £30,000 (typical range)

• One open grant application round per year
• Application deadline: Mid/late July
• Rolling basis: No (fixed annual deadline)
• Online portal: Via London Community Foundation/Prism Charitable Trust

Anniversary/Exceptional Grants - £100,000

• Small number awarded for exceptional projects
• Following success of 10th anniversary grants in 2024, the foundation may continue to award these for particularly ambitious projects

Priority Areas

What They Actively Fund:

• New and innovative artistic work
• Experimental and risk-taking art
• Ground-breaking re-interpretations demonstrating artistic excellence
• Projects involving young artists
• Work by artists from diverse cultures across performing (music, opera, dance, theatre), literary, and visual arts
• Arts-related library and archiving projects
• Capital campaigns for arts organizations
• Projects reaching large and diverse audiences
• Work making significant contributions to the art form

Key Emphasis: Leadership quality is paramount - success is “largely due to the competence, creativity, experience, dedication, and energy of the leaders of the organisations/projects.”

What They Don't Fund

• Arts projects primarily focused on social/political advocacy
• Community arts programmes
• Arts education programmes
• Digital arts projects
• Films or film productions (including filming of productions)
• Core funding or operational costs
• Projects delivered outside London
• Applications from non-registered charities
• Requests exceeding 20% of overall project budget

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Governance and Leadership

Executive Director: Jo Hedley

President: Child of founder Madeleine Haas Russell

Decision-Making Structure:

• Four-stage review process
• Assessment by Cockayne staff, Arts Committee, and Board
• Grant recommendations submitted to Board of The Prism Charitable Trust for final decisions

Heritage: The foundation's name references “Cockaigne,” a medieval literary concept of an imaginary land of luxury and ease, reflecting the foundation's mission to enrich life through art.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

• Application Method: Online via donor-advised fund portal
• Application Deadline: Mid/late July (annual round)
• Pre-application Requirements: Must demonstrate how additional funding (minimum 80% of project budget) will be raised
• Maximum Request: No more than 20% of overall project budget
• Eligibility: UK registered charities only, delivering work in London

Decision Timeline

• July: Application deadline
• Summer/Autumn: Assessment by Cockayne staff, Arts Committee, and Board (3-4 months)
• December: Grant recommendations submitted to DAF Board
• February: Grant announcements
• March onwards: Projects may begin

Total Timeline: 6-7 months from application deadline to decision

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. In the 10th anniversary year (2024), the foundation made 75 grants total (10 at £100,000 plus 65 additional awards), indicating significant but selective grant-making.

Reapplication Policy

• Organizations who received a grant the previous year are not encouraged to apply to the current grant round
• Policy for unsuccessful applicants is not explicitly stated in public guidelines
• Suggested approach: Contact the foundation directly to discuss reapplication

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Values

Leadership Quality: “Success is largely due to the competence, creativity, experience, dedication, and energy of the leaders of the organisations/projects.”

Artistic Growth: Projects that will help the applicant/organization grow artistically or organizationally are prioritized.

Cost-Effectiveness: “Is it sustainable and reasonable in relationship to the overall budget and promised benefits/outcomes?”

Likelihood of Success: The foundation assesses whether objectives are sustainable and whether the project will be achieved as described.

Urgency and Timing: Whether the issue requires attention on a timely basis and if there are special conditions that increase or decrease the likelihood of success.

Recent Funded Projects (2024)

£100,000 Anniversary Grants included:

• London Sinfonietta: Series of eight significant commissions
• Alexander Whitley Dance Company: Technology-driven reimagining of Rite of Spring
• Ballet Black: “My Sister, The Serial Killer” - new commission
• Rich Mix Cultural Foundation: Ground floor refurbishment
• Tate Britain: First major UK retrospective of Hurvin Anderson
• Wilton's Music Hall: Environmental sustainability capital works
• Battersea Arts Centre: Cockayne Commissions supporting wide range of commissioned work
• Sinfonia Smith Square: Transforming under-stage crypt into rehearsal/green room space

Other 2024 grants funded:

• International Guitar Foundation: Commissioning pieces by Erollyn Wallen
• Ealing Symphony Orchestra: 100th anniversary concerto commission
• Multiple dance, theatre, music, and visual arts projects across diverse London organizations

Language and Terminology

The foundation uses terms emphasizing:

• “Artistic excellence”
• “Ground-breaking” and “innovative”
• “Diverse cultures” and “diverse audiences”
• “Risk-taking” art
• “Significant contribution to the art form”

Tips for Standing Out

1. Demonstrate strong, experienced leadership - This is explicitly stated as crucial to success
2. Show artistic ambition and innovation - The foundation values experimental, risk-taking work
3. Provide realistic budget and timeline - Cost-effectiveness and achievability are key criteria
4. Secure majority funding elsewhere - Only request up to 20% of project budget; show how you'll raise the rest
5. Emphasize diversity - Highlight how the project provides opportunities to artists from diverse cultures
6. Articulate artistic growth potential - Explain how the project will advance the organization or art form
7. Focus on London reach - Demonstrate significant impact on London audiences and arts sector

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Fixed annual deadline means careful planning is essential - applications only accepted once per year in July
• Leadership credentials are paramount - ensure your application showcases the competence, experience, and vision of key personnel
• Artistic excellence over social impact - while diversity is valued, this is an arts-focused funder, not a community development funder; emphasize artistic merit and innovation
• Secure co-funding first - with 80%+ of budget needed from other sources, demonstrate strong fundraising capacity and partnerships
• Think ambitious but achievable - the foundation values both exceptional £100,000 projects and smaller innovative work in the £1,000-£30,000 range
• Long decision timeline requires patience - 6-7 months from deadline to announcement means plan cash flow carefully
• Previous grantees discouraged from immediate reapplication - successful organizations should wait at least a year between grants
• Contact early for guidance - the foundation is open to pre-application conversations initiated and scheduled by them

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• The Arts Council of England
• The London Community Foundation
• Backstage Trust
• The Pilgrim Trust
• The Goodman Foundation
• THE BUFFINI CHAO FOUNDATION
• THE JOHN S COHEN FOUNDATION
• National Lottery Heritage Fund
• Financial Times
• INSPIRATIONS
• THE SAINTBURY TRUST
• GLOBAL REACH
• THE ARTS FOUNDATION
• THE MARANDI FOUNDATION
• EYES ON THE FUTURE
• IN THE GAME
• THE TOWN HALL
• National Lottery
• Google
• Bloomberg

References

1. Cockayne Foundation - What We Do. https://cockaynefoundation.org/what-we-do
2. Cockayne Foundation - Grant Guidelines. https://cockaynefoundation.org/what-we-do/grant-guidelines
3. Cockayne Foundation - Grants 2024. https://cockaynefoundation.org/what-we-do/grants-2024
4. Cockayne Foundation - Contact Us. https://cockaynefoundation.org/contact
5. London Community Foundation - Cockayne Grants for the Arts. https://londoncf.org.uk/grants/cockayne-grants-for-the-arts-ext
6. International Arts Manager - “Cockayne Foundation celebrates 10th anniversary.” https://internationalartsmanager.com/cockayne-foundation-celebrates-10th-anniversary/
7. The Charity Commission - The Prism Charitable Trust (1099682). https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1099682
8. fundsforNGOs - “Cockayne Grants Program in the UK.” https://www2.fundsforngos.org/latest-funds-for-ngos/cockayne-grants-program-in-the-uk/