Your Guide to Applying for a Beyond Burlesque CIC Grant
So you're thinking about applying to Beyond Burlesque CIC — lovely! We're a UK-based fund that helps burlesque performers get to international festivals by covering costs like flights, accommodation, food, access needs, and visas. Here's a warm, practical rundown to help your application shine.
First, Make Sure You're Eligible
You'll need to:
Be based in the UK when you apply
Apply as yourself, not on behalf of a troupe or company
Be 18 or over
Don't worry if you don't have a confirmed festival place yet — that's totally fine! You just need to show you're genuinely working towards it, like having submitted a performance application, been chatting with the organisers, or having a specific festival picked out that you're aiming for.
What the Grant Can (and Can't) Cover
Grants can help with:
Travel — flights, trains, coaches, you name it
Accommodation
Food and subsistence costs while at the event
Disability and access needs — e.g. a support worker, accessible transport, or specialist equipment
Visa or travel document costs
Any other reasonable cost directly related to attendance, at our panel's discretion
Just a heads up — costumes and performance gear are the main exclusion, so keep those out of your ask. But everything needed to actually get there, stay there, eat well, and participate fully (access needs included) is fair game — don't hold back on including these if they apply to you.
Put Together an Honest, Clear Budget
There's no set maximum, which is great — but we do want to see a proper breakdown (flights: £X, accommodation: £X, food: £X, entry fee: £X, access support: £X) rather than one vague total. Ask for what you genuinely need rather than padding it out — a tight, honest budget tends to land better than an inflated one, and we can offer a partial grant if needed.
Let Your Personal Statement Be Real
This is honestly the heart of your application. We specifically want to understand why this grant would make a difference to you, so don't be shy about sharing:
Your financial situation, if it's relevant (we actively prioritise performers facing financial hardship, so there's no need to downplay this!)
Any disability or access needs that shape your costs or your ability to attend
What this particular festival means for you and your growth as a performer
Why this opportunity wouldn't be possible without a bit of help
Being open here isn't a weakness — it's exactly what the fund exists for
Tell Us a Bit About the Festival Too
We also want to know about the event itself — its reputation, and how it's likely to help you grow. So bring in all that lovely research you've already done: what the festival's about, who's performing, and what you're hoping to get out of it (networking, being seen by producers, workshops, maybe even paid work down the line).
A Few Things That Can Bump You Up the List
If it's a competitive round, priority tends to go to folks who:
Are facing financial hardship or low income
Haven't received a grant from us before
Have never performed internationally before
Come from underrepresented groups in the burlesque community
If any of these apply to you, don't be shy — mention it clearly rather than hoping we'll guess.
A Couple of Things to Avoid
Just a gentle heads-up on what won't work:
Applying from outside the UK
Applying for something that's already happened
Applying when the festival isn't really the main reason for your trip
Applying again without sending in your post-event report from a previous grant (if that's you, get that sorted first!)
After You Apply
If we award your grant before your place is officially confirmed, we will wait to release the money until you've got that confirmation — totally normal, just keep us in the loop. And if you're successful, remember that little post-event report afterward keeps the door open for future applications.
If anything's unclear, it's always worth a quick email to beyondburlesquecic@gmail.com before you apply — much better than guessing! Good luck, we'd love to help you get there.
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