What did you find most challenging about your application and how did you overcome these challenges?

“We had to prepare our application at a time when our programme was still taking shape, as we were working with 10 different projects, each with different stakeholders and at different stages of development. As such, we focused on identifying central themes and objectives that gave each of the projects and our application a clear, abiding mission: to share and to celebrate people, place and planet in the context of heritage. This helped to demonstrate what we wanted to achieve and chimed well with the wider aims of the Belfast 2024 programme.”

What would you recommend future applicants spend more time on when developing their application?

“You should focus on outcomes and legacy – what you really want to get out of the project and what its worth will be beyond the funding period. Work backwards from these starting points to find the most efficient way to achieve them. For example, we really wanted to boost people’s knowledge of the city’s natural heritage, so we focused on Our Planet as one of the three themes artists and organisations were invited to respond to.  

“With partnerships, it’s worthwhile meeting in person with the groups and projects you are intending to work with, as this consolidates relationships and allows deeper exploration of joint goals and objectives.”

What one piece of advice would you give to someone applying for funding for the first time?

“Leave lots of time to redraft, rethink and engage early and fully with partners – both delivery partners and strategic partners – to get the most out of the project or programme.  

“To engage partners, we highlighted the wider and longer-term benefits of taking part, aligning our approach with the city’s broader heritage and regeneration priorities. This helped smaller organisations and artists to recognise their contribution within a bigger picture and fostered a culture of collaboration across the project.”

When delivering your project, what surprised you?

“The support we received from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Northern Ireland team helped us to think about our messaging and how to get the word out about our different heritage-inspired projects. I’d recommend getting in touch with your local team during the application process. They can help you refine your idea and direct you towards best practice guidance.”

What’s been the most rewarding thing to come out of your project?

“Belfast 2024 has been a very meaningful time when we were supported to explore our identity, our past and our future, through cultural participation and some of that took me by surprise. The depth of reaction from participants showed the power of the heritage we celebrated, how some of the projects changed lives and how they impacted positively on people's regard of others.  

“We’ve had great qualitative feedback, particularly from those who are perhaps not regularly engaging with the city’s history. We’ve also strengthened our understanding of Belfast’s heritage sector. Everything we’ve learned is already informing how we budget, plan and prioritise our work.”

Following this project, what are you most looking forward to in your organisation’s future?

“Applying the principles of the Heritage Fund to my wider work. Exploring the criteria and strategic priorities has helped me rethink our organisation's understanding of cultural heritage and our support for citizen participation in exploring identity.”

This is part of a series of Q&As led by successful grantees, aiming to demystify the project management process and share experience across the sector. Explore more stories below.