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National Arts Council

Sustain the Arts (stART) Fund

For individuals and organisations who want to support the long-term sustainability of Singapore’s arts ecosystem.

Last updated on 26 September 2026

The 2026 stART Fund Open Call Cycle is now closed.

About the Sustain the Arts st(ART) fund

The st(ART) fund is an initiative by the National Arts Council, supported by the private sector to boost the long-term sustainability of small arts organisations, and to nurture a culture of giving to the arts.

What the st(ART) fund covers

Beyond monetary funding, the stART fund aims to support beneficiaries in capability development to equip them with relevant skills that to help improve on their long-term sustainability, such as data management and analytics, impact reporting, fundraising and donor stewardship. The stART Fund also provides resources to small arts groups to strive for charity and IPC status, such as:

  1. Impact Study Clinic Sessions

    1. An Impact Assessment Framework will be developed as a tool for beneficiaries to communicate the progress and impact of their work to their donors.

    2. Consultative clinics will be held to educate and guide the beneficiaries on how to use the report templates to aid their impact reporting and donor stewardship.

  2. Training Roadmap 

    1. LASALLE College of the Arts – “Fundraising for Impact: What’s The Plan” Fundraising Workshop

    2. National Volunteer & Philanthropic Centre (NVPC) – Level Up Series

Application cycle

stART Fund invites arts organisations to submit proposals for the next Open Call. We seek innovative projects that enhance community arts experiences across various mediums, including literary, performing, visual, and digital arts.

Projects should engage audiences creatively, encouraging reflection on and celebration of Singapore's cultural identity. Proposals may range from innovative presentations to participatory projects, both analogue and digital.

stART Fund applications are now processed through Our SG Grants (OSG) Portal (opens in new tab)

Click here  [PDF, 1.92 MB] (opens in new tab)to view the OSG portal guide for stART Fund applications.

Click here  [PDF, 264.01 KB] (opens in new tab)to view the Open Call Guidelines. Interested parties are encouraged to read the brief thoroughly.

Eligibility criteria

Who can apply

Arts organisations who meet the following criteria are eligible to receive short-term support from the stART Fund:

  1. Registered with the Commissioner of Charities (COC), Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) or the Registry of Societies (ROS); and

  2. Total Operating Expenditure (TOE) of less than SGD1 million.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can you share more on the selection criteria of stART?

The funding for stART’s programmes is largely driven by donors’ expectations, and it is governed by the stART Committee consisting of volunteers from both the private and public sectors, as well as representatives of NAC. All shortlisted programmes and arts group beneficiaries, together with their funding allocation, will be approved by the stART Committee.

2. What is the grant quanta available for each grant under the stART Fund?

The quantum for each grant under the stART Fund is estimated to be between $20,000 and $50,000.

3. Can I apply for more than one grant for each programme?

The stART Fund complements NAC's existing funding schemes to broaden support across the arts sector. To maximise reach and impact, stART Fund recipients are not eligible for other NAC funding schemes during the same grant period, and projects already supported by NAC grant schemes will not be eligible for stART Fund support.

4. As a stART beneficiary, what am I expected to do?

The stART Fund aims to provide short-term support. As a stART beneficiary, you are expected to participate in capability development initiatives that will aid levelling-up your fundraising capabilities. These initiatives could be offered by NAC, the Charities Council or other agencies.

5. If I receive organisation funding to scale my organisation to achieve Charity and/or IPC status, when will I get the grant?

Groups will receive funding in two tranches based on milestones met.

6. What are some of the shared services partners that my organisation may reach out to for guidance on areas such as electronic regulatory submissions and governance-related matters?

With the aim to professionalise the charity sector, the Commissioner of Charities has partnered with various organisations to set up shared services to strengthen charities’ regulatory compliance and efficiency of their back-end operations.

Visit Shared Services Initiative for Charities (opens in new tab)to refer to the list of partners and their services (at low or no cost). Your charity may contact these partners directly to find out more. 

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