If you’re looking to make a living by making music, then finding multiple sources of income to fund your career is crucial.
Musicians living in the UK have a powerful funding option at their disposal: music grants. In this post, we’ll break down the world of music grants in the UK.
What are music grants?
Grants are a form of non-repayable funds given away by governments, foundations, businesses, non-profits, individuals, or other entities. Grants are awarded to those who apply following a set of criteria, but are otherwise considered to be gifts.
You’ll find that criteria determining who gets music grants in the United Kingdom is often extremely strict and aimed at serving very specific type of music project. This isn’t meant to discourage you, but to instead encourage you to be thorough and detailed in the way you search and apply for grant opportunities.
Getting the most out of applying for UK music grants
The UK offers a diverse set of grants aimed at supporting musicians of every genre and at different points in their careers.
Every UK-based music grant is different, which means that copying and pasting the same application over and over isn’t likely to work. Applying for grants can be tedious work, but it can help you to figure out your goals, and define your challenges.
Organizations that offer music grants in the UK
Since there’s an ever-expanding list of music grants in the UK, this is by no means a complete list. But if you’re a UK-based musician searching for ways to fund a music project, this will give you a great start.
PRS Foundation
PRS Foundation are the leading funder of new music and talent development, and have awarded more than £32m to over 6,700 music projects since 2000.
The Open Fund For Music Creators
A grant programme open to songwriters, bands, composers, producers, and performers working in all musical genres.
Up to £10,000 in funding offered to UK-based musical writers and producers that have had at least three commercially exploited works.
This program is designed to support the careers of outstanding UK-based female musicians.
Grant funding and career support initiatives aimed at supporting emerging artists.
A fund designed to help emerging UK-based female music creators.
A program that gives up to £5,000 to UK-based bands who have been invited to play a showcase at an international festival or conference.
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Help Musicians
Help Musicians is an organization devoted to helping musicians connect to a multitude of funding opportunities in the UK. From grants aimed at highlighting young musical talent, to those helping musicians cope with illness, Help Musicians offers specialized music grants and support.
In addition to providing plenty of grants itself, the Help Musicians site also features an extremely powerful Funding Wizard tool that helps musicians search and connect with grants and opportunities that can be found across the UK.
This grant supports young musicians aged 8-21 who reside in rural Scotland.
Funding available to singers, string players, piano accompanists, and wind players who study within the EU.
ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND DEVELOPING YOUR CREATIVE PRACTICE
Offers UK-based creatives between £2,000 to £10,000 to devote a period of time to creative development.
ARTS COUNCIL NATIONAL LOTTERY PROJECT GRANTS
A program offering grants ranging from £1000 to £100,000 to help engage the public through music and other artforms.
ARTS COUNCIL OF NORTHERN IRELAND
This council offers various grants to musicians based in Northern Ireland.
Grant funding aimed at helping to give Wales-based artists funding and access to career opportunities.
Grants ranging from £200 and £2,000 are offered to outstanding UK-based musicians of any genre under the age of 18.
BBC YOUNG MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Financial funding and career opportunities offered to an outstanding young British musician aged 18 or under.
BLISS TRUST/PRS FOUNDATION COMPOSER BURSARIES
Grant funding aimed at supporting composers with professional development in the field of classical music based in the UK.
A professional development grant for UK-based musicians who create contemporary music and are interested in presenting music in unconventional spaces and outdoors.
A foundation aimed at helping to transform musical talent of classical soloists and chamber ensembles, as well as jazz, folk, and world musicians, into career success.
Offers £5,000 in funding for a musician who is being held back due to personal or professional circumstances.
A program that funds outstanding young instrumentalists in need of financial help.
This program is aimed at supporting UK-based creatives in their careers.
CREATIVE SCOTLAND OPEN PROJECT FUNDING
This grant is designed to raise Scotland’s creative profile by supporting music efforts and other creative projects.
A program that provides funding and support for collaborative music projects between artists from the UK and France.
Funding between £1,000 and £3,000 offered to bands and musicians based in South East London.
A program that discovers and develops promising musical talent.
A charity that supports musicians aged 5-18 who face challenges in pursuing music.
Up to £6,000 in funding aimed at helping UK-based instrumentalists pursue solo careers.
A broad grant designed to help bolster contemporary music creation, recording, and performance efforts.
Grant funding offered to help musicians tour internationally and attend music conferences.
Funding between £250 and £1,250 to help UK-based creatives develop their careers.
Broad funding opportunities for the arts and other areas that benefit the public.
KATHERINE MCGILLIVRAY'S GET A LIFE FUND
Funding for career musicians over 30 years old to take a break and recharge.
Grants between £5,000-£15,000 offered to help individuals and bands develop their careers.
OPPENHEIM-JOHN DOWNES MEMORIAL TRUST
Small-scale grants offered to creatives aged 30 and over based in the UK who are experiencing financial difficulties.
Up to $4,000 in funding awarded to help jazz musicians fund a project.
RNIB-ELIZABETH EAGLE-BOTT MEMORIAL FUND
A grant program that offers up to £10,000 in funding to blind and partially sighted musicians to support their music making.
Funding given to an outstanding composer to create a musical theater or opera project.
This program helps support and sustain the careers of promising composers.
Grants awarded to young musicians in Scotland.
A program helping young London-based musicians perform their work.
Provides financial support and encouragement to UK-based creatives.
THE MICHAEL TIPPETT MUSICAL FOUNDATION
A program that supports groups of music-makers especially involving young people.
Funds aimed at supporting young UK-based creatives.
This trust is designed to help musicians aged 25 and under who are in need.
Provides funding and career opportunities for young people pursuing the arts.
Financial assistance given to outstanding young musicians based in the UK.
A vast grant program offered to UK-based musicians who are aged 25 and under. The programme is designed to develop and support music projects based around the country.
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