ACE promises ‘future-fit’ funding platform

Arts Council England’s (ACE) chief executive Darren Henley says that its priority is to start to reopen National Lottery Project Grants (NLPG) for applications from mid-September – and it will use the failure of the Grantium platform as a “launchpad” to create a more efficient system for applicants.

The funder’s grants platform Grantium stopped working on 23 July. Many services, such as payments to National Portfolio Organisations, were restored within a few days but ACE temporarily paused applications for lottery grants.

In a new blog, Henley says the outage was caused by high levels of traffic combined with security system updates made in the previous months.

“Our focus now is on reopening NLPG for applications,” he said. “I know NLPG is absolutely vital for many individuals and organisations, and our full attention is on ensuring that the under £30,000 strand of NLPG (by far the busiest part of NLPG, accounting for 82% of all the applications we receive) is open again by mid-September.

“The work to reopen the other NLPG strands, such as Touring, Place Partnerships and over £30,000, is happening alongside this, and as soon as the under £30,000 strand is back up and running we expect to follow swiftly with the others.”

When the programme for new applicants does reopen, ACE says the application questions will remain the same. Previously submitted or partly completed applications will also be available from early September.

The Museums Estate and Development Fund will reopen on Thursday 11 September and the portal for people invited to submit full applications to the Creative Foundations Fund will open on Monday 15 September.

The arts council says its priority is minimise disruption for individuals and organisations, and in the short-term its application processes will be very similar to before.

“But thinking further ahead, we’re working on creating more efficient, user-centred services for our applicants,” Henley says.

“The work of moving to a future-fit grant-making service is underway – but of course, after the last month, we’re approaching it with new urgency. We’re using this moment as a launchpad for crucial changes that will make our services simple, speedy and secure for everyone.”