Arts Council Evidence Guide

What Arts Council England actually asks for — and where the real numbers are firm versus where they're more flexible. This is preparation guidance, not legal advice.

The two numbers that are genuinely fixed

Confirmed directly from Arts Council England's own published guidance:

• Exactly 3 letters of support — only the first three submitted are considered, so choose carefully.
• Up to 10 pieces of evidence — an upper bound, not a target.

How this route is actually structured

Unlike Digital Technology's mandatory-plus-optional model, Arts Council England's own guidance describes minimum evidence expected per category, not a single "pick N of M" rule. Not every application needs evidence in every category — but each category you rely on needs to be genuinely well evidenced, not thin.

What strong evidence tends to include

• Named exhibitions, performances, publications, or releases — not just "I create art".
• Independent critical reviews or press from real publications.
• Clear evidence of your specific role, not just involvement in a wider production.

Try the free Evidence Scan to see how your current work maps against these expectations.