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Grant Funding Masters Academy
Get Your Creative Practice Funded
with expert tutor Alex Finberg
Live Online
An 8-week live cohort for makers, artists, and craftspeople ready to win major UK grants — and master the tools and systems to keep winning them.
Led by Alex Finberg — expert grant writer, maker, and published author.
Apply for the next cohort
Places are limited. Cohorts are small by design.
THE PROMISE
By week 8, you'll have an expert-reviewed application — either submitted, or ready to submit — plus the system, the peer network, and the confidence to keep applying for grants and fund your practice for years to come.
THE STORY
Many of us have been there. Application open. Cursor blinking. Word count taunting and daunting you!
You know your work is good. You know the project matters. But the application feels like it's written in another language — and every draft “splurge" you write comes out wrong.
Another funding round passes. Again.
Here's the thing: grant funding isn't a lottery. It's a craft.
And like every craft, someone can teach you the language, the tools, and the rhythm — until it stops feeling impossible and starts feeling like yours.
That's what this Academy is for.
WHO THIS IS FOR
You're a maker, artist, or craftsperson. Your practice is real and established.
You're applying — or seriously preparing to apply — to funders like:
Arts Council England (DYCP, Project Grants, NLPG)
Arts Council of Wales (Creative Steps, Create & Engage)
QEST (Queen Elizabeth Trust)
Creative Scotland Open Fund
Trusts and foundations: Elephant Trust, Hugo Burge, Ashley Family, Paul Hamlyn, and more
You have a specific project or body of work in mind. You're not here just to "explore what to apply for." You're here to get funding
WHO THIS ISN'T FOR
Be honest with yourself. This isn't the right room if:
You're at the very start of your practice with no clear project
You want a passive video course to flick through
You're not willing to commit time and effort to getting a polished application submitted
WHAT YOU GET
Eight weeks. Small cohort of max 12 participants. Expert coaching.
8 × live 2-hour sessions with Alex — teaching, live reviews, case studies and live feedback
Expert written reviews of your draft applications (2 reviews base tier, 4 top tier)
Unlimited AI review tool — we have our own expertly trained LLM Model you can submit applications to for reviews. This model has been trained on successful applications
Peer-review pods — 3 makers per pod, accountability and support from fellow makers on a mission
The Hot-Seat — watch your peers get reviewed live and learn from every one
Lifetime alumni community — monthly calls with Alex, ongoing peer support, 30% off future cohorts
The Submit-or-Commit finish — leave week 8 with your application in, or with a dated, coached plan to get it there
THE 8-WEEK ARC
Week 1 — Map Your Funding Landscape Name your funder. Name your stage. Build your strategy.
Week 2 — Funder Psychology Understand what assessors are actually reading for. Stop writing. Start speaking their language.
Week 3 — Hot-Seat Reviews (Round 1) Three makers get live feedback on their drafts. Everyone learns.
Week 4 — The Review Week Alex reviews your draft in writing. Detailed notes. Honest edits. No fluff.
Week 5 — Hot-Seat Reviews (Round 2) Three more makers receiving live expert reviews on the call from Alex
Week 6 — The Assessor's-Eye View Rejection reasons. Scoring grids. What actually happens behind the funder's door.
Week 7 — Hot-Seat Reviews (Round 3) Final three makers. By now, you're spotting weaknesses before Alex does.
Week 8 — Submit or Commit Live working session. Final gut-checks. Either you hit send, or you leave with a committed next-steps plan.
THE INVESTMENT
Two tiers. Both offer a complete learning experience.
BASE — £595 Or 3 × £210 over three months.
Everything above, including 2 expert written reviews of your grant applications
MASTERS — £895 Or 3 × £315 over three months.
Everything in Base, plus:
A 1:1 strategy call with Alex in week 1
A written audit of your website and social presence
4 expert written reviews of your grant applications (double the coverage)
Priority review turnaround
THE ROI (Return on Investment)
A single Arts Council DYCP win is £6k–£12k. A Project Grant win is £15k–£100k.
This course does not compare to a generic grant funding course. It is run by an expert maker and grant fundraiser who will empower you to become fluent at writing compelling and high impact grant applications, coaching you to get your practice funded
Most makers who complete the Academy recover the fee on their first successful application — and then keep applying for years, without paying us again.
MEET ALEX
Alex Finberg is a grant writer, maker, and founder of Woodcrafters.
He's supported hundreds of creatives to secure grant funding across ACE, QEST, Lottery, and major trusts. He runs a Community Interest Company
FAQs
When does the next cohort run? Quarterly. Dates listed above - Apply now to secure your place or join the waitlist.
How much time do I need each week? 4–6 hours, including the live 2-hour session. Plan for it like you'd plan for a studio day.
Do I need to attend every session live? We ask you to commit to at least 5 of the 8 live sessions. Recordings are available, but the room is where the magic happens and real learning takes place.
What if my deadline falls after the cohort ends? Most serious applications can take 3-6 months of preparation. The alumni community keeps supporting you long after week 8 — with monthly calls, peer reviews, and discounted re-enrolment.
Can I pay in instalments? Yes. Both tiers have a 3-month payment plan.
What if I apply and don't get in? We'll send you straight to the £0 > Funded 4-week course and add you to the waitlist for the next cohort when the timing is better.
Get Your Creative Practice Funded
with expert tutor Alex Finberg
Live Online
An 8-week live cohort for makers, artists, and craftspeople ready to win major UK grants — and master the tools and systems to keep winning them.
Led by Alex Finberg — expert grant writer, maker, and published author.
Apply for the next cohort
Places are limited. Cohorts are small by design.
THE PROMISE
By week 8, you'll have an expert-reviewed application — either submitted, or ready to submit — plus the system, the peer network, and the confidence to keep applying for grants and fund your practice for years to come.
THE STORY
Many of us have been there. Application open. Cursor blinking. Word count taunting and daunting you!
You know your work is good. You know the project matters. But the application feels like it's written in another language — and every draft “splurge" you write comes out wrong.
Another funding round passes. Again.
Here's the thing: grant funding isn't a lottery. It's a craft.
And like every craft, someone can teach you the language, the tools, and the rhythm — until it stops feeling impossible and starts feeling like yours.
That's what this Academy is for.
WHO THIS IS FOR
You're a maker, artist, or craftsperson. Your practice is real and established.
You're applying — or seriously preparing to apply — to funders like:
Arts Council England (DYCP, Project Grants, NLPG)
Arts Council of Wales (Creative Steps, Create & Engage)
QEST (Queen Elizabeth Trust)
Creative Scotland Open Fund
Trusts and foundations: Elephant Trust, Hugo Burge, Ashley Family, Paul Hamlyn, and more
You have a specific project or body of work in mind. You're not here just to "explore what to apply for." You're here to get funding
WHO THIS ISN'T FOR
Be honest with yourself. This isn't the right room if:
You're at the very start of your practice with no clear project
You want a passive video course to flick through
You're not willing to commit time and effort to getting a polished application submitted
WHAT YOU GET
Eight weeks. Small cohort of max 12 participants. Expert coaching.
8 × live 2-hour sessions with Alex — teaching, live reviews, case studies and live feedback
Expert written reviews of your draft applications (2 reviews base tier, 4 top tier)
Unlimited AI review tool — we have our own expertly trained LLM Model you can submit applications to for reviews. This model has been trained on successful applications
Peer-review pods — 3 makers per pod, accountability and support from fellow makers on a mission
The Hot-Seat — watch your peers get reviewed live and learn from every one
Lifetime alumni community — monthly calls with Alex, ongoing peer support, 30% off future cohorts
The Submit-or-Commit finish — leave week 8 with your application in, or with a dated, coached plan to get it there
THE 8-WEEK ARC
Week 1 — Map Your Funding Landscape Name your funder. Name your stage. Build your strategy.
Week 2 — Funder Psychology Understand what assessors are actually reading for. Stop writing. Start speaking their language.
Week 3 — Hot-Seat Reviews (Round 1) Three makers get live feedback on their drafts. Everyone learns.
Week 4 — The Review Week Alex reviews your draft in writing. Detailed notes. Honest edits. No fluff.
Week 5 — Hot-Seat Reviews (Round 2) Three more makers receiving live expert reviews on the call from Alex
Week 6 — The Assessor's-Eye View Rejection reasons. Scoring grids. What actually happens behind the funder's door.
Week 7 — Hot-Seat Reviews (Round 3) Final three makers. By now, you're spotting weaknesses before Alex does.
Week 8 — Submit or Commit Live working session. Final gut-checks. Either you hit send, or you leave with a committed next-steps plan.
THE INVESTMENT
Two tiers. Both offer a complete learning experience.
BASE — £595 Or 3 × £210 over three months.
Everything above, including 2 expert written reviews of your grant applications
MASTERS — £895 Or 3 × £315 over three months.
Everything in Base, plus:
A 1:1 strategy call with Alex in week 1
A written audit of your website and social presence
4 expert written reviews of your grant applications (double the coverage)
Priority review turnaround
THE ROI (Return on Investment)
A single Arts Council DYCP win is £6k–£12k. A Project Grant win is £15k–£100k.
This course does not compare to a generic grant funding course. It is run by an expert maker and grant fundraiser who will empower you to become fluent at writing compelling and high impact grant applications, coaching you to get your practice funded
Most makers who complete the Academy recover the fee on their first successful application — and then keep applying for years, without paying us again.
MEET ALEX
Alex Finberg is a grant writer, maker, and founder of Woodcrafters.
He's supported hundreds of creatives to secure grant funding across ACE, QEST, Lottery, and major trusts. He runs a Community Interest Company
FAQs
When does the next cohort run? Quarterly. Dates listed above - Apply now to secure your place or join the waitlist.
How much time do I need each week? 4–6 hours, including the live 2-hour session. Plan for it like you'd plan for a studio day.
Do I need to attend every session live? We ask you to commit to at least 5 of the 8 live sessions. Recordings are available, but the room is where the magic happens and real learning takes place.
What if my deadline falls after the cohort ends? Most serious applications can take 3-6 months of preparation. The alumni community keeps supporting you long after week 8 — with monthly calls, peer reviews, and discounted re-enrolment.
Can I pay in instalments? Yes. Both tiers have a 3-month payment plan.
What if I apply and don't get in? We'll send you straight to the £0 > Funded 4-week course and add you to the waitlist for the next cohort when the timing is better.