Before you apply

Find out more about how to apply to Collaborate, how the fund works and the key stages of your project.

Fun Palaces Feltham. Photo: Helen Murray

Group discussion round table — Who are we? Counterpoint Arts and The Open University. Tate Exchange. Photo: Dan Weill Photography

Before you apply

So you’re interested in developing a research collaboration and want to explore the next steps to apply to Collaborate?

Please note: Expressions of interest for the first round of funding for cultural sector applicants and academic applicants have now closed.

There will be a second round of funding in autumn 2022.

You can take a look at our guidance for cultural sector applicants and academic applicants below. Our FAQs cover any other questions you might have.

If you are planning to apply and want to find out what research is already out there on your topic read our ‘How to… find existing research’ resource.

Guidance for cultural sector applicants

Guidance for academic applicants

FAQs

The process

Stage 1
Cultural sector applicants submit an expression of interest between 18 October and 24 November 2021. An assessment panel selects the strongest 10 proposals.

Stage 2
Academic researchers submit an expression of interest between 6 December 2021 and 26 January 2022 in response to one or more of the cultural sector proposals. The assessment panel identify the strongest academic applicants and potential matches with projects.

Stage 3
A matchmaking process will take place with our support. Once projects have matched successfully they will work with their academic partner to develop a research question, methodology and joint application to Collaborate in May 2022. The assessment panel will award successful applications – we expect there to be a minimum of five in each round.

Your research journey begins!

For more detailed information about each stage of the process read our guidance for cultural sector applicants and our guidance for academic applicants.