2025 Global Mayors Challenge

Arts, Culture and Heritage Program is a grant initiative from Bloomberg Philanthropies that funds efforts to strengthen local arts organizations, connect audiences to culture, and advance the arts around the world. Bloomberg Philanthropies believes in the power of arts and culture to inspire creativity, spark collaboration, and improve quality of life in cities globally. The program supports capacity building for small and mid-sized cultural institutions, facilitates collaborations between artists and local governments to address civic issues, and integrates digital technology to enhance visitor engagement. While Bloomberg Philanthropies typically funds through invitations and strategic partnerships rather than open calls, the program is active in cities across the globe with a focus on sustainable cultural ecosystems.

The UKRI Policy Fellowships 2025, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, offer 18-month placements for academics to co-design research with UK government and What Works Network host organizations. Awards range from £180,000 to £280,000 and support three fellowship tracks: core policy fellows, Natural Hazards and Resilience policy fellows, and What Works Innovation fellows. Applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent research experience, be based at a UKRI-eligible UK organization, and possess relevant subject matter or methodological expertise. Government-hosted positions target early to mid-career academics, while What Works fellowships welcome all career stages. Fellows work directly with policymakers to bridge academic research and policy development on pressing national and global challenges. The application deadline is July 15, 2025.