We have awarded four one-year grants of £20,000 to organisations working to increase access and nurture early careers across the Heritage & Arts sector.

These grants were made through our Heritage & Arts programme, a research-based, invitation-only initiative, through which the Mercers’ Company identifies organisations whose work aligns with our aim to support projects that enrich lives, strengthen communities and widen participation in heritage and the arts.

Grants were awarded to: 

The Barbican Centre to support the delivery of the Sankofa Community Carnival. This cross-arts project brings local communities together through workshops in costume design, music and dance, culminating in two carnival processional parades as part of a summer community festival.

The Heritage of London Trust to support its work restoring historic sites for communities across London. The Trust’s projects actively involve young people, connecting communities with their local heritage, building community cohesion and raising awareness of careers in the heritage sector.

The Mayor of London’s Fund for Young Musicians to expand access to high-quality music education for children and young people across London who would otherwise face financial or practical barriers to participation.

The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust for its national project Making the Future: Enriching Young Lives via Heritage & Craft. The initiative introduces young people to traditional heritage crafts, addressing issues of access, aspiration and diversity within the heritage and craft industries.

Read more about our philanthropic funding programmes here.