Norman Heritage Seed Fund

Request for Proposals (RFP) - Norman Heritage Seed Fund  

Issued by: Hastings Borough Council 
Location: Hastings Borough (projects must take place within the borough) 
Fund Duration: 1 April 2026 – 31 March 2027 
Total Fund Available: £10,000  

Grant Amount: Up to £1,000 per project 
Application Deadline: No deadline – applications assessed on a rolling basis until funds are fully allocated 
Next Round: Fund will reopen April 2027

1. Introduction 

To celebrate Hastings’ rich Norman heritage, including the arrival of the Bayeux Tapestry in London in summer 2026, Hastings Borough Council is launching the Norman Heritage Seed Fund. 

This fund offers grants of up to £1,000 to support creative, cultural and community activity exploring Norman themes between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027. 

From late August 2026, the historic Hastings Embroidery will be displayed at Hastings Town Hall. Applicants are welcome to propose workshops, creative activities or events linked to the Embroidery during October half‑term. Please also note that 14 October is Hastings Day, offering a further opportunity for Norman‑themed programming.

Projects may be delivered: 

• As standalone activities, or
• Integrated within existing cultural events (encouraged but not required). 

The fund will run on a rolling basis. There is no closing date, applications will be assessed in the order they are received until the fund is fully allocated. The fund will reopen in April 2027 for the next financial year. 

2. What we will fund 

Projects must: 

• Celebrate, explore or interpret Norman heritage, the Norman Conquest, or the Bayeux Tapestry;
• Take place within Hastings Borough;
• Be delivered between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027;
• Provide clear public benefit.

Examples of eligible activity: 

• Norman‑inspired performances, film, theatre, music or spoken word;
• Creative workshops, community arts and participatory activities;
• Visual arts, textiles, digital artwork or projections interpreting Norman culture;
• Pop‑up exhibitions, historical interpretation, or living‑history elements;
• Talks, guided activities, educational programmes, or school-led creative responses;
• Collaborations between artists, historians, community groups, makers or venues.

3. Who can apply  

• Artists, performers and creative practitioners
• Community groups or voluntary organisations
• Schools, colleges and youth providers
• Event organisers and festival teams
• Heritage groups and local historians
• Local independent businesses with cultural programming
• Partnerships and collectives.

4. Funding available  

• Up to £1,000 per project
• Total pot: £10,000
• Fund allocated on a first‑come, first‑assessed basis 

Eligible costs include: 

• Artist/creative fees
• Materials and fabrication
• Equipment hire
• Venue-related costs
• Marketing and communications
• Volunteer expenses
• Insurance/safeguarding/accessibility requirements 

Not eligible: 

• Core organisational running costs
• Capital works or building improvements
• Activity outside the borough
• Projects without a clear Norman theme 

5. Selection criteria 

Submissions will be judged on five criteria, with the following weighting:

Relevance to Norman heritage / Bayeux Tapestry - 50% 

Public benefit and community impact - 15% 

Creativity, quality and originality - 15% 

Feasibility and deliverability - 15% 

Value for money - 5%.

6. Submission Requirements 

Applicants must submit a single PDF (max three pages) containing: 

• Project summary
• Whether it links to an existing event (optional)
• What you will deliver and how it celebrates Norman heritage
• Audience and community benefit
• Timeline (must sit within Apr 2026–Mar 2027)
• Budget breakdown
• Experience / capability
• Any required permissions, safeguarding or insurance 

Applications should be sent to: strategicprojects@hastings.gov.uk.

Applications will be reviewed monthly or as they come in, depending on volume. 

7. Reporting requirements  

Successful applicants will provide a short summary including: 

• What was delivered
• Audience numbers
• Photos (with permissions)
• Spend breakdown
• Learning or reflections 

8. Contact 

Email: strategicprojects@hastings.gov.uk.