Figurative provides specialist finance for arts, heritage, cultural and creative organisations. By investing in the cultural and creative sector, we want to support more organisations to become enterprising and resilient and promote the wider positive impact art and creativity have on society.
Figurative offers unsecured loans of various sizes. Our finance is flexible, with the investment team working closely with applicants to meet their needs. Investment can be used, among other things, to scale up existing activities, launch new income streams or entirely new ventures, or to manage cash flow challenges.
Organisations seeking investment must have a clear social mission at the heart of what they do and create positive social impact for the individuals and communities they work with. We welcome applications from across a wide range of creative industries, including visual and performing arts, cultural heritage, literature, film and broadcasting, crafts, fashion and architecture. Combined arts and sector support organisations are also welcome to apply.
Figurative began life as Arts & Culture Finance, a division of Nesta, before merging with New Philanthropy for Arts & Culture and launching as an independent organisation in September 2024. In addition to raising and managing investment funds, we support the development of new business, funding and impact models for the cultural and creative sector through a variety of innovation programmes, research projects and advisory services.