Kabosh, an award-winning theatre company based in Belfast, has been selected as one of 23 UK and German organisations to receive funding from the Cultural Bridge programme for socially engaged arts partnerships in 2026-2027.

The programme, announced by Cultural Bridge and its co-investors including the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Arts Council England, British Council, and others, has awarded a total of £370,000 to support the development of these partnerships. The funding aims to share expertise, exchange ideas, and collaborate on artistic practices exploring community issues across the UK and Germany.

Following an open application process in autumn 2025, Cultural Bridge received over 100 applications, assessed by an independent jury of UK and German professionals. Funding is provided in two tiers: up to £10,000 for new partnerships and up to £30,000 for existing ones, supporting 16 new and seven established connections this year.

The programme, launched in 2021, has now supported 68 partnerships through 85 awards, involving hundreds of artists and thousands of community members across various art forms. This year's projects address themes including migration and identity, queer-led work, youth empowerment, creative practice in post-industrial areas, disability-led performance, urban development, digital storytelling, and environmental spaces.

A priority for the 2026-2027 cycle was supporting organisations in previously under-represented geographical areas, including in the UK locations such as Girvan & Dalry in Scotland, Swansea in Wales, and several in England, alongside smaller towns and rural areas in Germany.