Latest news
Graeae Theatre
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19 June 2026Supporting wellbeing across funded organisations
This year, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation is committing an additional £200k in Funding Plus support to help prevent burnout and improve wellbeing for the people we fund.
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Pre-application Q&A webinar: 3 June 2026
Watch a pre-application Q&A webinar we held on 3 June for organisations interested in applying to Esmée for support who have questions about our application process or guidance.
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Climate Action Partner: Invitation to Tender
We are looking to work with a delivery partner to design and deliver a pilot climate action support programme for ten organisations funded by Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, starting in Autumn 2026.
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Community-led art and creativity: mid-strategy review
We’re pleased to share a report by DHA Communications reviewing Esmée Fairbairn Foundation’s support for community-led art and creativity. It looks at the context for this work and what progress has been made. Alison Holdom, Esmée Funding Lead for Creative, Confident Communities, also shares reflections on the recommendations.
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Big Nature Impact Fund: Investing in nature’s recovery
Led by Finance Earth, the Big Nature Impact Fund is the UK’s first blended nature-as-infrastructure fund. As they announce the first close, reaching a £64.6m, Sarah Hedley, Social Investment Manager at Esmée, reflects on why high-integrity funds like this are important and how it sits within Esmée’s work to improve Our Natural World.
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Migration Museum: building a new museum with community at its heart
Migration Museum share how they developed a People’s Panel to embed local voices directly into the creation of their new, permanent home.
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New Connections – challenging the way we fund
New Connections is supporting 20 organisations working for racial or migrant justice in the UK arts, community, environment and social justice sectors. As the learning Network comes to a close, we are sharing useful insights for funders who want to support grassroots and founder-led organisations, and for organisations that need their support but are frustrated with the funding system.
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Holding power as a member of the Involving Young People Collective
Daniel Mapatac from Esmée’s Involving Young People Collective (IYPC) shares his reflections on the impact ‘holding power’ as a young consultant has had on him and why shifting power to young people is important for creating long-term systems change.
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Gender justice: mid-strategy review
A new report examines Esmée’s portfolio of gender justice grants and the progress made since the launch of the strategy. It explores the changing context for gender justice and its impact, and shares recommendations for Esmée and other gender justice funders.
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Our work towards Racial Justice: actions in 2025
Following a review of our approach to racial justice by Chrisann Jarrett published last year, we wanted to provide an update on the five actions we committed to, and to share our next steps.
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