Funding Resources

Emma Johnson performing. Smiling and holding a saxophone

Below are some funds and funders that are available to you as a northern artist or promoter. If you need support to apply you can contact us for a bookable 1:1 advice session HERE. Please give us 4 weeks turnaround time for us to review your draft.

Arts Council England, National Lottery Project Grant (under £30k) 

NLPG is for “projects that support and engage people with creativity and culture” such as gigs, tours, commissions, programmes and festivals. Basically, work that engages the public. Deadlines are rolling and you can apply for up to £30k. Make sure you read the guidance thoroughly for your best chance of success. 

See blog post & video: https://www.jazznorth.org/news/ace-funding-deep-dive

Arts Council England, National Lottery Project Grant (over £30k) 

The over £30k grant is for the same activities as under £30k. The turnaround times are longer, applications are more scrutunised and you require a greater level of experience to secure this funding. 

Arts Council England, Developing Your Creative Practice (up to £10k) 

DYCP is for: developing & testing ideas, research & development (R&D), experimenting with new collaborators, international travel to explore other practice or work with mentors, professional development, reflecting on Covid-impact on your work, making your work more sustainable and similar projects which develop you as a creative practitioner. There are specific deadlines over the year. 

Jazz North Templates for Download - These resources assist you with the completion of budgets for the above funding opportunities. Please download the accompanying notes to help you use the spreadsheets.

PRSF, Funding for Music Creators

Small grants for musicians writing new original music to compose, record and tour - there are lots of specific ringfenced funds including Women Make Music, Momentum Accelerator (For Yorkshire and Liverpool based early career artists), Power Up and The Hitmaker Fund. Deadlines are staggered throughout the year. 

PRSF, Funding for Organisations 

PRSF supports promoters, talent development organisations, festivals, venues, curators and large performance groups (including orchestras, choirs, jazz bands or folk groups with 12 or more performers) with grants of up to £10k. PRSF supports original new music. Deadlines are staggered throughout the year.

Help Musicians, various small grants

Help Musicians has several grants available for the development of an artists’ work and career including the Peter Whittingham Jazz Award. They also support musicians’ wellbeing and have a mental health support helpline called Music Minds Matter. Grants are available to record and release, study, develop your skills and grow your career. 

Besides the main funders listed above, there are lots of adhoc funds available from funders and talent developers around the UK. A great way to find out about opportunities is to sign up to organisation mailing lists, especially those with a good track record of posting artist opportunities such as Launchpad (Music:Leeds) and The Glasshouse ICM. HMUK also have a fantastic Funding Wizard where you can filter what type of opportunity you’re searching for. 

Marco Woolf playing guitar with a violinist.