The Regional Creatives Fund, established by Amazon in 2025, offers grants of up to £30,000 to UK charities, Community Interest Companies (CICs) and Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs) that develop creative industry career pathways.
The Regional Creatives Fund is open to charitable organisations in Sunderland and across the UK that help underserved communities access careers in the arts, TV, podcasting, gaming, fashion, photography, journalism, comedy, and more.
Applications are open today here and close on 2nd August 2026.
The 2026 Regional Creatives Fund, launched at The National Theatre in London by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, exists to widen access to creative industry careers for people in underserved communities and aligns with the Government’s Creative Places Growth Fund1.
Applications are welcome from single organisations and from consortiums whose members are based in the same region, provided they already run skills projects making a real difference and are looking for further funding to grow, maintain, or reimagine that work.
Single organisations meeting the criteria are invited to apply for up to £30,000, while partnerships applying together can access as much as £100,000. By backing charitable organisations with established creative upskilling work, the Regional Creatives Fund gives community organisations the freedom to tackle their most urgent priorities.
The Regional Creatives Fund welcomes applications from organisations working across the creative industries, including:
Music — performance, production, artist development, sound engineering, music business
Performing Arts and Live Events — theatre, live performance, events production, stage management, technical production
Screen and Audio — film, TV, animation, podcasting, radio, audio production
Digital and Interactive — gaming, XR, AI-enabled creative tools, digital design, social media production
Publishing and Communications — books, journalism, copywriting, PR, advertising, podcasting
Fashion, Craft and Visual Arts — fashion, textiles, fine art, illustration, photography, graphic design
Comedy — stand-up, sketch, sitcom, comedy writing, character comedy
Cross-disciplinary — projects that genuinely span two or more of the above
Other — creative industries where a strong fit is demonstrated
Applications are open for small to mid-size charitable organisations who are registered in the UK2. Applicants must currently be running a programme that focuses on upskilling people from underserved communities for careers in creative industries. Creative Access, the UK’s leading inclusivity organisation in the creative industries, defines underserved communities as a population proven to be under-represented3 in the sector.
One-of-a-kind support from Amazon creative teams
Through Amazon’s network of creative industry professionals, the Regional Creatives Fund also provides charitable organisations with pro bono upskilling programmes, including mentoring, work experience, placements, and digital training. This support is available for the staff at community organisations and the people they support, delivered by creative minds from Amazon Music, Prime Video, Amazon Games, and more.
Applicants must be able to show the grant will expand or sustain an existing programme that’s already making a difference, whether that’s placements in game development studios, music production training, or portfolio development for the advertising creatives of tomorrow.
An independent expert judging panel will award funding to Regional Creatives Fund applicants. The panel includes senior leaders from Amazon, The National Theatre, BAFTA, Arts Council England, NI Screen, Creative Wales, Help Musicians, Audible and the Culture, Media and Sport Committee.
Funding applications will be assessed across five key areas. Strong proposals will reflect the fund’s spirit with energy, optimism, and a clear creative purpose; deliver real impact through skills, access, and industry links; show a smart, achievable plan with confident delivery; centre inclusion by amplifying underrepresented voices; and build on existing programmes to grow what’s already working. More information on the judging criteria is available here.
The Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said: “The UK’s Creative Industries are the best in the world, from film and TV to theatre and music production. The Creative sector is a leading driver of economic growth and a provider of good jobs. This Government is determined that access to those jobs should be spread across the country, and available to everyone, everywhere.
“I’m really pleased to have worked with Amazon during the recent Greater Together LA conference to secure further investment in their Regional Creatives Fund, a great scheme that is investing directly in people’s potential.”
James Dibbo, Amazon VP and CFO for Global Entertainment, said: “Amazon is significantly invested in the success of the UK’s creative industries. This includes working together with the UK government to unlock creative opportunities across every nation and region of the country. After seeing the incredible impact of our first awardees, we are delighted that the Regional Creatives Fund is now reopen for applications. Where you start should not determine how far you go – and we want to help build a future where creativity belongs to everyone, everywhere.”
Beat Routes is a charity based in Slough and received a grant of £10,000 from the 2025 Regional Creatives Fund. Katie Nutt from Beat Routes said: “The £10,000 grant from the Regional Creatives Fund has been vital in sustaining our year-round creative employment pathway for young people facing barriers in Slough. Over the past year, it’s helped more than 300 young people gain creative skills, build confidence and take real steps towards careers in the music industry. For so many of them, Beat Routes is something they rely on, for their mental health, their creativity, for connecting with friends and making new ones, and for the mentorship that opens up genuine opportunities. Amazon’s support means we can keep that door open.”
The UK is one of Amazon’s global creative hubs. In 2025, Amazon announced £40 billion of investment in the UK over the next three years, including the acquisition and planned redevelopment of the iconic Bray Film Studios. Amazon has invested billions of pounds into the UK’s creative economy, with over 2,000 people working across books, film, TV, sport, music, and fashion – alongside the wider network of creatives Amazon partners with every day.
Amazon makes significant film and television production investments across the UK. Amazon MGM Studios is seeking planning permission to expand production capacity at Bray Studios. Bray most recently hosted the production of Highlander, which also filmed across the Scottish Highlands. Under Amazon’s long-term contract at Shepperton, the studio was home to season three of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, as well as Project Hail Mary. Season three of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power also filmed on location throughout England and Wales.
The Amazon Literary Partnership supports non-profit literary organisations, writing centres and community engagement programmes across the UK and Ireland, helping to create opportunities for aspiring writers of all ages and stages.
As part of the National Year of Reading 2026, Amazon is expanding its Literacy Champions programme to help inspire a new generation of readers across the UK. Delivered in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, the initiative trains Amazon volunteers to lead shared reading and storytelling activities in schools and communities, helping children build confidence and develop a lifelong love of reading
To find out more about the Regional Creatives Fund, visit https://www.aboutamazon.co.uk/news/community/amazon-regional-creatives-fund
