After the announcement of its closure, Forest Forge has allocated remaining funds to support local artists and organisations with grants of between £500 – £5,000.

In 2026 Forest Forge Theatre Company announced its closure after 45 years of making and touring theatre in the New Forest. As the journey comes to an end, the team are eager to support artists and cultural community organisations in the New Forest via some small commissions. We hope that by providing small pots of funding we can support sustainability and can seed fund new ideas.

We have ringfenced some of our remaining funds to support local artists and organisations with grants of between £500 – £5,000. We anticipate making between 5 – 10 Forge Ahead Commission grants.

Projects should deliver activity within one of our three areas of activity:

• Rural touring theatre
• Participation or community arts participation
• Artist development

We are also especially excited to support projects and ideas that complement the Forest Forge ethos; those that are playful, heartfelt, joyful and irreverent.

Funds can be used for any number of costs including artist fees, travel, room hire, materials, marketing, training and can be used as match funding.

We welcome applications from:

• Professional artists
• Existing community groups or organisations delivering cultural activity
• We will accept applications which will benefit people in Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset. As a New Forest organisation, we are especially keen to support New Forest applications.

Projects must:

• Benefit people who live in the New Forest, Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset, either now or in the future.
• Demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity and accessibility.
• Consider environmental impact.
• Be delivered by October 2027.
• We will consider any art form, however as a theatre company we are most interested in those that have a connection to theatre – for example, writing, puppetry, scenic work, storytelling.

Key dates:

• Apply by: 5pm on Friday 16 October 2026
• Successful applicants notified: Within the last week of October 2026
• Grants made: In November 2026

Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees and decisions are final. Successful applicants will be required to report back to a Forest Forge Trustee after the closure of the company.

For more information, click the Opportunity Info link below!