Bow Skills workshop: bid writing and arts fundraising with Kim Pearce – an Arts Council England special!  - Bow Arts

Overview

Join experienced arts fundraiser Kim Pearce in this Arts Council England (ACE) project grants special as she demystifies the four investment principles, breaks down the application structure, and provides practical insights into how to build a successful ACE bid. The workshop will end with a Q&A where you can put your burning questions to Kim about specific ideas or issues you're coming up against.

What you will learn

• Gain insights to develop ideas and write grant applications to support your practice
• Learn how to bring a project idea to life and support the grant writing process
• Master the updated guidelines of ACE project grants and DYCP to build out a successful bid

Workshop content

After a broad overview of the different types of funding out there for artists, Kim will take a deep dive into the specifics of ACE project grants and DYCP. In an artist-centred approach, she will demystify the ACE investment principles and talk through how to deploy her grant writing technique as a tactile, practical blueprint to engage with these principles. Kim will then deconstruct what goes behind an ACE bid – pulling apart the application structure, drilling down into how to build out responses to individual questions, and running through example answers to tease out useful tips and tricks that you can apply to your own bids. All participants will receive a resource pack at the end, featuring everything you'll have learnt in the session and some extra insights.

Date and time

• Wednesday 16th September 2026, 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Location

Courtyard Room, Bow Arts Trust, 183 Bow Road, London, E3 2SJ. Nearest stations: Bow Road (District and Hammersmith and City lines) is a 6-minute walk away, and Bow Church (DLR) is a 3-minute walk away. Bus: 205, 25, 425, A8, D8, 108, 276, 488 and 8 all service the surrounding area.

Accessibility

The Bow Arts Trust offices have step-free access throughout from street level, including to the accessible toilet, and is service animal friendly. This venue does not have a hearing loop system. Accessible parking is not available on-site. If you have any questions regarding accessibility at this venue or event or would like to make us aware of any access requirements in advance, please email [email protected] or call 020 8980 7774 (Ext. 3).

About the facilitator

Kim Pearce is a theatre director and producer with a decade of ACE funded projects to her name. Between 2016-2024, she was co-Artistic Director of Papergang Theatre, successfully running the company on a project by project basis.

About Bow Skills

Bow Arts seeks to support creative professionals at all stages of their careers. Bow Skills is a dynamic and relevant programme of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) which is informed by an artist steering group and open to all creative practitioners across London. The programme includes talks, panel discussions, new skills labs and peer crits, with concession rates available to students, over 65s, under 18s, Bow Arts artists and key workers.