Scotland
New and existing organisations based in Scotland that are producing film festivals and/or curated screening programmes can apply for a grant of between £10,000 and £40,000. Activities supported by the fund should increase the reach, impact and diversity of film screenings and events for communities that reflect the diversity of Scottish audiences. The grant is provided by Screen Scotland’s The National Lottery Film Festival and Screening P...
To support the development of outstanding songwriters and composers of all genres at different stages of their career, the PRS Foundation is inviting applications to the latest round of the Open Fund for Music Creators. Grants of up to £5,000 are available to songwriters, composers, or artists, bands, producers and performers who are writing their own music or commissioning others to support the creation, performance and promotion of outstand...
The Performing Rights Society (PRS) for Music Foundation, working with Spotify, has launched a new funding round to develop the careers of songwriters and producers working in popular music genres in the UK. Launched in 2017 as a response to the long-term career needs of those working behind the scenes, the Hitmaker Fund awards up to eighteen grants of between £5,000 and £10,000 each year. Applications can be made by songwriters or producers...
Third sector organisations across Scotland can apply for multi-year funding to support projects and activities delivering national impact for Scotland’s historic environment sector. The funding, which is made available through Historic Environment Scotland’s Partnership Fund, will support the costs of delivering up to three different areas of activity for up to three years. Activities could include professional or volunteer training progra...
Public and local authorities can apply for grants of up to £25,000 to support projects that promote the National Gaelic Language Plan in Scotland. The funding is made available by Bòrd na Gàidhlig though the Gaelic Plans Fund, which aims to increase the learning and use of Gaelic, and promote a positive image of the language. Two funding streams are available: the Strategic Stream which is open to applications from six identified local auth...
The Radcliffe Trust is offering grants to UK charities and other not-for-profit organisations for projects in traditional crafts, heritage, and classical music. The funding supports training, education, and skill development in these areas through two schemes: the Music Scheme which supports classical music performance and training, particularly for those with special needs, youth orchestras, and projects at secondary and higher levels; and th...
The PRS for Music Foundation, a major funder of new music in the UK, has reopened its Composers' Fund for applications. The fund provides grants of up to £15,000 to composers with a strong record who are at a stage in their career where funding can help them progress. revious projects have included recordings, the promotion and performance of existing works, international co-commissions and development, performer collaboration, residencies, s...
A £1 million fund has been launched to help UK arts organisations develop new activities involving men with mental health problems. The Baring Foundation’s Arts Programme will award grants of between £20,000 and £50,000 to support charities and not-for-profit arts organisations to provide new and attractive creative opportunities for men who are not already taking part, and encourage those men who are least likely otherwise to take part....
Grants are available for UK registered charities seeking to enhance and improve people’s lives through the advancement of the arts, health and medical welfare, and the environment. The D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust typically awards grants of between £500 and £6,000 for projects and core costs, with a preference for small-scale, locally based initiatives. The types of services provided to communities could include promoting access to the ar...
The Fidelio Trust is offering grants of up to £5,000 to talented early-career individuals and groups in the arts, particularly music, who wouldn't be able to pursue their project or activity without financial support. Individuals and groups must be recommended by an appropriate institution, college, Arts Festival or similar organisation. Funding is available towards special tuition or coaching costs; to participate in external competitions; s...
Accredited museums or partnerships of museums and other organisations can apply for grants of up to £100,000 for projects lasting up to two years that aim to bring their collections closer to people by enhancing accessibility and engagement with the public. The funding, which is being provided through the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation’s Collection Fund aims to award approximately 12 grants per year, distributed across two funding rounds. The...
Artists and bands that are at a crucial point in their careers can apply for grants of between £5,000 and £15,000 to break through to the next level of their careers. Activities eligible for funding include recording, touring and marketing. Applications can be submitted by the artists themselves or those who are working on their behalf, for example, a manager, an independent label or a publisher. The funding is being made available through t...
Grants are available to schools, cultural organisations and universities; to develop a greater understanding of Japanese culture. Grants of up to £6,000 are available to support the study of the Japanese language and culture, School, Education and Youth exchanges. In the past, the Foundation has made grants towards visits between the UK and Japan by teachers and young people and the teaching and development of Japanese language and cultural s...
UK charities and not-for-profit organisations can apply for funding to support classical music performance and training especially chamber music, composition and music education. The Radcliffe Trust Music Grants programme generally awards grants in the region of £2,500 to £7,500, and is particularly interested in supporting music for children and adults with special needs, youth orchestras and projects at secondary and higher levels, includi...
Youth Music, a national charity funded by the National Lottery, has announced that round 6 of the NextGen Fund has opened for applications. The fund supports emerging musicians and behind the scenes creatives aged 18-25 (and under-30s who identify as d/Deaf or Disabled) from across the UK to launch a creative project, idea or business. Grants of up to £2,500 could help people including singers, songwriters, producers, djs, managers and agen...
Grants of up to £5,000 are available through The Theatres Trust's Small Grants Programme for UK non-profit theaters. This initiative, backed by The Linbury Trust, aims to support projects aimed at ensuring the future viability and success of non-profit theaters in the UK, including essential small capital works, digital upgrades, and crucial machinery installations. The deadline for applications in this round is 12 noon on the 7th June 2024.
The Foyle Foundation has announced that after 25 years, it will end its Grants Giving Programme in 2025. The Foundation currently awards funding in the areas of the Arts, Learning, Community, School Libraries and Health. Arts and learning charities can apply for grants through the Main Grants Scheme. This can include major building projects. Small charities can apply for grants of between £2,000 and £10,000 via the Small Grants Scheme; and...
Community groups and individuals in the UK can apply for grants of up to £2,000 or musical instruments to develop sustainable community-based music programmes. The Music for All - Community Project Funding programme is looking to support different types of projects based on electric guitars and amplifiers; acoustic guitars; community projects supporting those with learning and cognitive challenges; community projects supporting those with deg...
Interest-free loans are available to musicians at all stages for the purchase of musical instruments and equipment, to help ensure that more people across England and Northern Ireland can access instruments and learn to play music. The loans which are made available through the Take it Away Scheme works with 130 music retailers to allow applicants to buy almost any musical instrument and can also be used for musical equipment, software and tu...
Grants of up to £3,000 are available to support the careers of talented artists and groups working in music of black origin. The funding is available for recording and releasing music; helping to build creative portfolios and get music out into the world. The funding is being made available through the MOBO Help Musicians Fund. As well as the funding the scheme also offers one-to-one business advice and one-to-one health consultation coverin...
Creative developers and start-up studios are invited to bid for a share of £5 million in government funding to turn their new video game ideas into market leaders. The UK Games Fund (UKGF) Content Fund will provide UK games studios with grants of between £50,000 and £150,000 to support games in development and ready them for market. The funding, which will be available over the next 18 months, will support the development of intellectual pr...
Grants of between £500 and £5,000 are available to churches, chapels and other places of worship built before 1896 to carry out small programmes of conservation work to decorative features and monuments. Eligible work includes, but is not limited to, stained glass windows, sculpture, furniture, internal monuments, tombs, and wall paintings. All work funded must be directed by a professional architect or established conservator and completed...
Grants of up to £1,500 are available to support musicians to develop their skills or artistic practice. The funding is available to help solo artists, composers, group members, songwriters, producers, or multidisciplinary artists aged 18 and over with no significant backing to reinvigorate and sustain their careers as music creators through training, mentorship or other learning opportunities. This could be a conference to learn more about th...
The National Events Programme is now open for applications for Round 49. The programme provides funding of between £5,000 and £25,000 for live public facing sporting and cultural events that take place outwith the local authority areas of Edinburgh and Glasgow. Events must have a delivery budget of more than £20,000 and attract over 1,000 in-person attendees. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Wednesday 30 August 2023.
Independent music creators of all genres and disciplines can apply for grants of up to £3,000 to record and release their music. The funding is available from Help Musicians, and it can be used to cover the cost of studio hire, merchandise, PR and marketing, and software. Applicants must be aged 18 or over and have no significant backing. They must also be controlling one or more aspects of their career (e.g., self-managing, self-releasing, s...
Not for profit organisations and charities that are working with schools, colleges and other formal education settings can apply for grants of between £30,000 and £400,000 to enhance the lives, development and achievements of children and young people through high quality arts-based learning activities. Projects can last for two to three years. The funding is being made available through the Paul Hamlyn Foundation’s Arts-based Learning Fu...
The Performing Rights Society (PRS) for Music Foundation is offering funding support to UK-based artists, bands, songwriters and producers who have been invited to play at international showcasing festivals and conferences. The International Showcase Fund awards grants of up to £4,500 to cover costs such as travel costs, visas and accommodation, marketing and promotion, equipment, and venue hire. Applicants can also apply for grants of up to...
Funding is available to help public museums, galleries, historic houses, libraries, and visual arts organisations in the UK to provide meaningful paid work experience opportunities for full-time university students that enables them to further explore their interest in the arts, and related future career options before they graduate. Through Art Fund’s Student Opportunities programme, organisations can apply for up to £10,000 towards the co...
Creative Scotland has launched two new funds supported by The National Lottery to help cultural and creative organisations in Scotland currently not in receipt of regular funding. The National Lottery Open Fund for Organisations offers funding of between £1,000 and £100,000 for projects or programmes lasting up to 18 months, while the National Lottery Extended Programme Fund provides funding of between £100,000 and £200,000 for programmes...
Historic Environment Scotland has announced a new funding programme to support not-for-profit organisations such as charities, local authorities, and religious bodies for historic environment projects. The Historic Environment Grants Programme replaces previous funding programmes, and will focus on Scotland's historic environment, from historic buildings, ancient monuments, and archaeology, to stories and traditions. Grants ranging from £1,00...
Emerging and professional musicians of all genres and disciplines can apply for grants of up to £1,500 to help them access opportunities that will allow them to focus on developing their artistic and professional development at a crucial point in their career. Support could include short courses, workshops, training and time limited periods of coaching with an expert in the artists chosen field. Eligible artists may be solo instrumentalists,...
Grants of up to £1,500 are available to support musicians to develop their skills or artistic practice. The funding is available to help solo artists, composers, group members, songwriters, producers or multidisciplinary artists aged 18 and over with no significant backing to reinvigorate and sustain their careers as music creators through training, mentorship or other learning opportunities. This could be a conference to learn more about the...
UK-based organisations with experience of film distribution, exhibition and audience development (such as film distributors, cinemas, and film festivals) will soon be able to apply for funding to increase audience choice and engagement across the UK. The British Film Institute National Lottery Audience Projects Fund will support the delivery of audience development activity with awards of up to £200,000 for multi-year and short-term projects...
Funding is available to help public museums, galleries and visual arts organisations in the UK to provide meaningful paid work experience opportunities for full-time university students that enables them to further explore their interest in the arts, and related future career options before they graduate. Through Art Fund’s Student Opportunities programme, organisations can apply for up to £10,000 towards the costs associated with paying st...
The Scottish Government is making £16 million in funding available to help cultural organisations, events, museums and freelancers recover from the economic impact of Covid-19 restrictions. Delivered through the Omicron business support fund, a total of £12 million will be given to Creative Scotland to support a hardship fund for creative freelancers, a recovery fund for cultural organisations, and for Edinburgh Festivals celebrating their 7...
Following a review of its existing schemes and a wider public consultation, Historic Environment Scotland has updated and streamlined it grants programmes to promote and protect Scotland’s historic environment. This includes the introduction of Historic Environment Grants, a new open programme for project-based funding enabling applicants to apply for capital and activity costs; a new Partnership Fund; the Heritage & Place Programme to suppo...
Professional UK musicians can apply for funding of up to £5,000 for music-led creative collaborations. The grants will support collaborations between musicians and other non-music artists such as lighting designers, choreographers, gaming designers, and visual artists etc. The funding can be used to cover costs such as venue and rehearsal space, recording costs, travel, and fees for musicians, artists or collaborators’ time. Groups of six m...
Grants of up to £1,500 are available to support musicians to develop their skills or artistic practice. The funding is available to help solo artists, composers, group members, songwriters, producers or multidisciplinary artists aged 18 and over with no significant backing to reinvigorate and sustain their careers as music creators. Groups of six members or less can also apply. The funding is being made available by Help Musicians, the indep...
Grants of between £500 and £100,000 are available to support the creative development of individual practitioners working in the arts and creative industries in Scotland. The Open Fund for Individuals will support creative activity such as a specific project, production or a period of research and development for up to 24 months. It can support an individual’s time where this is related to specific creative outcomes. Creative Scotland is m...
Grants of between £500 and £100,000 are available to enable individuals and organisations working in the arts and creative sectors explore ways of working that will help them to adapt and respond to the current changing circumstances. The funding is available to organisations and groups whose work or project involves the arts, screen and creative industries as well as freelance and self-employed artists and creative practitioners in Scotlan...
Funding is available to help independent, entrepreneurial music creators of all genres and disciplines build their career. The Help Musicians’ Do It Differently Fund offers a bespoke package of funding and expert advice, including wellbeing and development services, to empower musicians across the UK who are at a crucial point in their career. Grants of between £500 and £3,000 will fund professional development opportunities and creative p...
Musicians can apply for up to £5,000 to undertake a UK-based collaboration between themselves and another non-music artists, for example storytellers, lighting designers, choreographers, technologists, scientists, gaming designers, theatre directors, visual artists etc. Eligible musicians will be over 18 based primarily in the UK and be in financial need and without significant backing. Solo instrumentalists, conductors, composers, vocalist...
Funding is available to individuals, organisations and networks who work outside school settings to undertake training and continuing professional development (CPD) that will strengthen youth music in Scotland for the benefit of young people. Through the YMI CPD Fund 2021, Creative Scotland will provide grants of up to £750 for individuals, and up to £5,000 for organisations which help people delivering youth music develop their skills and c...
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, in partnership with the British Film Institute, has launched a £7 million one-year pilot fund to boost international development and distribution opportunities for the UK’s independent screen sector. The UK Global Screen Fund will support the sector including film, TV, animation, documentary and interactive narrative games to become more competitive internationally by funding business de...