Music grants for musicians, music businesses and projects
As of 15 November 2026, GrantMatch lists 19 open music grants from 16 funders. 6 close in the next 30 days, the first on 16 November 2026, 11 are open all year with no fixed deadline, and 0 were added this week. Each entry links to the official source.
Listings last checked 9 November 2026. Guide checked 14 November 2026.
Music funding in the UK comes from a mix of national bodies, charities and local funds. Musicians can apply for small career grants, music businesses can bid for growth and export funding, and venues, community groups and schools can find money for projects that get more people playing and listening.
This page lists the open music grants GrantMatch tracks, for individual artists as well as music companies and community groups. Each listing links to the funder's page, so you can check who can apply and when it closes.
Find the grants your organisation can win
Tell us about your organisation once and GrantMatch shows the grants you are most likely to win, checks your eligibility and emails you when new funding for music opens. Free to start, no card needed.
Create free accountClosing in the next 30 days (6)
Music Growth Fund
Arts Council England
The Music Growth Fund gives music businesses and organisations across the UK between £1,000 and £100,000 to grow, through two strands with different deadlines. For £1,000 to £40,000, the current round closes at 11.59pm on 26 November 2026, and you need at least 25% of the budget as cash match funding. Applications that miss it go into the next round, closing 7 January 2027. For £40,001 to £100,000, the next round opens on 23 November 2026 and closes at 11.59pm on 15 January 2027. You need at least 50% cash match funding and a completed finance template. Festivals, promoters, managers, labels, studios, rehearsal spaces, publishers, grassroots venues and sector support organisations can apply. You need an approved profile on the Arts Council grants system first. Official source: https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/music-growth-package/music-growth-fund-general-guidance. Last checked by GrantMatch on 19 October 2026.
£1000 bursary in memory of Alan Hull (Lindisfarne) which recognises one young song writer each year
Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland
The Alan Hull Bursary is a £1,000 award in memory of Alan Hull of Lindisfarne. Each year it recognises one young songwriter. It is listed among the funds currently open for applications from a funder whose grants support a wide range of causes across the North East. This bursary is for individuals rather than organisations. It suits a young songwriter based in one of the areas the fund covers: County Durham, Tees Valley, Gateshead, Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside or Sunderland. If you write your own songs and would value recognition for that work, this could be a good fit. The award is worth up to £1,000. The fund is open for applications now and closes on 16 November 2026, so plan to submit your application in good time. There is one practical point to keep in mind. Only one songwriter receives the bursary each year, so it recognises a single person rather than spreading funds across many applicants. If you have not applied to the funder before, you will also need to register an account on its grantee portal before you can submit an application. Leave yourself enough time to do this ahead of the closing date. The funder publishes eligibility information for new applicants and a set of FAQs about applying for funding. If you need help with your application, it also offers a Help and Support page. Official source: https://www.communityfoundation.org.uk/apply/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 28 October 2026.
Grants for young people (up to 21) to pursue musical ambition
Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland
The Young Musicians Fund offers grants to young people aged up to 21 who want to pursue a musical ambition. It is a grant for individuals, so you apply as a young person rather than through an organisation. You can receive up to £500. That makes it a good fit for a focused, practical step forward in your music rather than a large project. The fund covers a wide area of North East England: County Durham, Tees Valley, Gateshead, Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland. If you are 21 or under and based in one of these areas, this fund may suit you. The fund is open now and closes on 16 November 2026. Some of the foundation's funds only open at certain times of year through a call for applications, so it is wise not to leave your application late. One practical point: before you apply for the first time, you need an account on the grantee portal. Set this up early so it does not hold you up near the closing date. The foundation publishes eligibility information for new applicants, so you can make sure you and your activity meet its criteria. It also offers a set of FAQs that answer common questions about applying. If you would like help with your application, the foundation has a Help and Support page too. If music is your passion and a small boost would help you take it further, this fund is worth a look before the November closing date. Official source: https://www.communityfoundation.org.uk/apply/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 28 October 2026.
Arts Council of Wales Major Productions
Arts Council of Wales
Arts Council of Wales Major Productions gives £100,000 to £300,000 to Wales-based organisations staging large-scale live performance in theatre, dance or musical theatre, mostly in Wales. The total budget is £600,000, so only a small number of projects will be funded. There is one round a year. The deadline is 1pm on Wednesday 18 November 2026. Proposals can be a new production, or a re-staging or scaling up of an existing work. Site-specific work is considered, but the funder prefers productions with high reach, which can include touring across Wales and beyond. Expect a total project budget of £500,000 or more. The fund can pay up to 75% of eligible costs, and at least 25% of project income must come from outside the Arts Council and National Lottery. Contact grants@arts.wales first. The grants team checks eligibility before releasing a form. Smaller projects are pointed to the Create and Engage fund.
Help Musicians Fast Track Grants (Round 3, 2026)
Help Musicians
Fast Track from Help Musicians offers up to £500 to help you seize an opportunity that could have a lasting, positive impact on your music career. Round Three opened on 19 October 2026 and closes on 20 November 2026 at 5pm. The money can go towards courses, networking opportunities, equipment and software, and the costs of recording and releasing music. Help Musicians publishes a full list of what you can and cannot spend the grant on. Fast Track suits working and early career musicians who are actively building sustainable careers in music and need timely investment to grow or stabilise their income. You must have control over one or more parts of your career, for example by self-managing, self-releasing or self-producing. You must also be able to deliver the activity within 6 months of receiving the money. A panel reviews each application for opportunity, need and impact. They particularly want applications that show the support will help you grow your music career and income in the long term. Fast Track is competitive, so read the full eligibility criteria, FAQs and application tips before you apply. If your request is mainly about a live performance, such as a tour, festival, showcase, support slot or launch show, Help Musicians runs a separate programme called Fast Track Live, which offers up to £1,000. You can only apply for the programme that best matches your opportunity. If you are not successful, Help Musicians offers other support. This includes regular online Business Skills sessions open to all musicians, plus mentoring and career development programmes with their own eligibility criteria. Official source: https://www.helpmusicians.org.uk/get-support/develop-as-a-musician/fast-track-grants. Last checked by GrantMatch on 28 October 2026.
Help Musicians Fast Track Live (Round 2, 2026)
Help Musicians (with LIVE Trust)
Fast Track Live helps musicians make the most of a live opportunity that could shape their career. It offers grants from £500 up to £1,000, plus a two-hour career clinic session with a live music specialist. Help Musicians runs the programme with support from LIVE Trust. The money can help with costs linked to significant grassroots live opportunities. These include touring, festivals, showcases, support slots, venue performances and launch shows. You can put it towards travel, rehearsal and accommodation, as well as equipment, production and marketing for a live performance happening in the next six months. It suits working and early-career musicians who are actively building a sustainable career and need timely investment to take up a specific live opportunity. You must have control over one or more parts of your career, for example by being self-managing, self-releasing or self-producing. A panel reviews each application for opportunity, need and impact. It looks for applications that show how the support will develop your live career, grow your audience, create future opportunities and build sustainable income over time. Round Two is open now. It opened on 19 October and closes on 20 November 2026 at 5pm. Expect strong competition, as Help Musicians says the programme will be highly competitive. You can only apply to the Fast Track programme that best fits your opportunity. If your request is not mainly about live performance, the standard Fast Track programme may suit you better. Read the eligibility criteria, guidance and FAQs before you apply. Official source: https://www.helpmusicians.org.uk/get-support/develop-as-a-musician/fast-track-live. Last checked by GrantMatch on 28 October 2026.
Guide
Checked 14 November 2026 against the official sources linked.
Grants for individual musicians
Help Musicians, the UK charity for professional musicians, runs Fast Track for working and early career musicians. It can go towards courses, networking, equipment and software, or the costs of recording and releasing music, and you must be able to deliver the activity within six months. It runs in rounds, so check the listing for current dates. A separate strand, Fast Track Live, supports live opportunities such as tours, festivals, showcases and support slots. You can apply to only one of the two, so pick the one that fits. The Music Growth Package also includes a Music Creators Growth Fund, offering £10,000 to £20,000 to artists, bands, producers and artist collectives.
Source: Help Musicians: Fast Track, Arts Council England: Music Growth Package
Growth funding for music businesses
Arts Council England leads the Music Growth Package, a UK Government fund with extra National Lottery investment. Its Music Growth Fund offers grants in two bands, £1,000 to £40,000 and £40,001 to £100,000, to music festivals, managers, promoters, publishers, record labels, recording studios, rehearsal spaces and grassroots music venues. For music companies taking UK acts abroad, the Music Export Growth Scheme, delivered by the BPI, gives match funding for international marketing and promotion, covering no more than half of eligible costs. Applicants in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales should read the section for them on the Arts Council England Music Growth Package page.
Source: Arts Council England: Music Growth Package, Find a Grant: Music Export Growth Scheme
Venues, promoters and community music
Grassroots music venues can apply to the Music Growth Fund, and the Music Growth Package also includes an Early Career Promoter Fund and an International Showcase Fund, both delivered by PRS Foundation. Outside the national schemes, community foundations and local trusts often fund music for young people and community groups, for instruments, workshops and inclusive projects.
What makes a strong music application
Be specific about what the money will pay for and what will change because of it: a release plan, a tour that reaches new audiences, or a project that gets more young people playing. If a fund asks for match funding, show where the rest of the budget comes from. Include links to your music, past reviews or audience figures, and keep the budget realistic.
Who funds this
| Funder | Open grants here |
|---|---|
| Arts Council England | 2 |
| Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland | 2 |
| Cumbria Community Foundation | 2 |
| Arts Council of Northern Ireland | 1 |
| Arts Council of Wales | 1 |
| Department for Business and Trade and Department for Culture, Media and Sport | 1 |
| Edward Cadbury Charitable Trust | 1 |
| Forever Notts (Kynan Eldridge Fund) | 1 |
16 different funders in total. Where a maximum award is stated, the middle value is £1,000.
By grant size
| Largest award | Open grants |
|---|---|
| Up to £2,000 | 12 |
| £2,001 to £10,000 | 2 |
| £10,001 to £100,000 | 3 |
| Over £100,000 | 1 |
| Amount varies or not stated | 1 |
All open grants (19)
No deadline listed
Check the funder's current application window before you apply.
Bridget’s Magical Music Pot
Cumbria Community Foundation
Bridget's Magical Music Pot is a small grants fund run by Cumbria Community Foundation. It helps people come together to make music of any kind in West Cumbria, which means the former local authority areas of Allerdale and Copeland. The fund was created by the family of Bridget Hilton, a teacher who spent her life encouraging people to play music for fun. It is funded by donations from her family and friends, and it is open to further donations. The fund can help with a range of practical costs. These include equipment such as music stands, music hire or purchase, and instrument purchase or hire. It can also cover room or venue hire for practice or performance, tuition, tutoring or workshop costs, and travel costs, for example to hear or perform music. Publicity costs to promote performances or attract new members are also covered. It suits charitable, not-for-profit organisations and small unconstituted groups. If your group has no formal constitution, an individual aged 18 or over can apply on its behalf. Grants will normally be up to £500. That makes this fund a good fit for modest, practical costs rather than large projects. All applications are made through the Foundation's online application portal, and the page links to a step-by-step portal help guide. If you have questions about the fund, you can contact Lisa Blackwell on 01900 825760 or at grants@cumbriafoundation.org. Official source: https://www.cumbriafoundation.org/fund/bridgets-magical-music-pot/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.
Dave Hartley Fund (Mansfield and Ashfield)
Nottinghamshire Community Foundation (Forever Notts)
Nottinghamshire Community Foundation (Forever Notts) gives grants of up to £250 from the Dave Hartley Fund to community and voluntary groups and to individuals in the Mansfield and Ashfield area. The money is for music: appreciating it, learning it and performing it to others. It is a rolling programme with no fixed deadline. Applications are assessed immediately. Money can buy new instruments or supportive musical equipment and items. Groups can use it to develop. Individuals can use it to build their musical ability and self esteem. Priority goes to groups and individuals that cannot be supported through other funds. If you win a grant, Forever Notts will ask for monitoring 6 months after the award. Questions can go to Forever Notts on 01623 620202.
Travel Award for Bands and Choirs
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
The Travel Award for Bands and Choirs from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland helps established bands and choirs based in Northern Ireland to travel outside Northern Ireland to perform. The aim is to develop your performance skills, networks and audiences by showcasing your music elsewhere. It also supports fairer access to the arts for groups in the bands and choral sectors. The award pays for travel costs, including flight, boat, train and bus tickets, vehicle hire and fuel. It does not cover accommodation, subsistence, insurance, travel within Northern Ireland, or travel unrelated to performances or showcasing. You must show evidence that a relevant organisation, event, festival, promoter or tour operator in your destination has invited you to perform or showcase. Priority goes to applications that show high quality musicianship, a commitment to training and musical education (particularly of young people), and a commitment to developing your repertoire and technique. Bands must be formally constituted. Accordion, brass, concert, flute, pipe and wind bands can apply. Choirs need at least 10 members and must have been formally constituted for at least two years. Professional, amateur and school choirs are included. Individuals cannot apply. Timing matters. Do not book your travel before you submit your application, because if any part is already booked, none of that trip is eligible. You must apply at least four weeks before you plan to leave. The Arts Council only contributes to travel costs paid directly by the band or choir from its own bank account, not costs paid by individual members. The Arts Council is moving to a new application portal, so you may need to create a new account the first time you apply. Official source: https://artscouncil-ni.org/funding-for-organisations/travel-awards-for-bands-choirs. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.
Supporting Grassroots Music
Arts Council England
Arts Council England provides funding to support grassroots live music venues and promoters across England. This funding is part of their commitment to supporting the live music ecosystem. Grassroots music venues, promoters, and organisations in England can apply.
Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation Small Grants
The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation
The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation gives Small Grants of up to £750 to charitable organisations and groups running music-based projects in South Yorkshire. The programme is open throughout the year, so there is no fixed deadline. Music must be at the heart of the project. The foundation supports people of all ages facing social or economic disadvantage, including people with disabilities and complex needs, children and young people, schools, and communities facing hardship. You can apply for your own group or on behalf of others. Previous recipients and previously unsuccessful applicants can apply again, and the Trustees judge each application on its merits. Festival funding is closed: no applications for it are accepted from January 2026. Applications must go through the official online form. Any other route is rejected. Larger projects may fit the separate Large Grants programme, which offers up to £2,000.
South Yorkshire Music Hub Open Doors Small Grants
The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation (SYMCA and South Yorkshire Music Hub)
Open Doors Small Grants give £750 to £2,000 for inclusive music projects for young people aged 25 and under across South Yorkshire. Instruments, equipment and work that reaches under-represented young people can all be funded. Awards are made on a rolling basis. There is no fixed deadline, so you can apply at any time while funds last. Official source: https://doncastermusic.org.uk/open-doors-small-grants/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 22 October 2026.
More grants
Get alerts when new grants open
Tell us about your organisation once and GrantMatch shows the grants you are most likely to win, checks your eligibility and emails you when new funding for music opens. Free to start, no card needed.
Create free accountEdward Cadbury Trust Grants
Edward Cadbury Charitable Trust
The Edward Cadbury Charitable Trust gives one-off grants of usually £5,000 to £20,000 to registered charities whose work benefits the local Midlands community. Grants cover a specific purpose or part of a project. The Trust's long-term interests are social welfare, music, nature, education and training. There is no fixed deadline on the funder's website, and applications are usually assessed within three months. Applicants need their registered charity number. Give a detailed cost breakdown, with a quote if you have one. Say who in the Midlands will benefit and how many people. Attach your latest annual report and accounts. Past grantees may reapply, but the Trust aims to support charities rather than be relied on for funding. Successful applicants complete an Outcome Report Form.
Questions
What music grants are open now?
GrantMatch lists 19 open music grants from 16 funders. Of these, 14 offer up to £10,000 and 11 have no fixed deadline.
Can individual musicians get grants?
Yes. Help Musicians runs Fast Track and Fast Track Live for working and early career musicians, and the Music Growth Package's Music Creators Growth Fund supports artists, bands and producers. Many other music grants are for organisations, so check who can apply on each grant page.
Is there funding for music businesses?
Yes. Arts Council England's Music Growth Fund offers £1,000 to £100,000 to music businesses such as labels, studios, promoters and venues, and the Music Export Growth Scheme gives match funding to UK music companies for international marketing.
Do I need match funding?
It depends on the fund. The Music Export Growth Scheme pays no more than half of eligible costs, so you fund the rest. Check the guidance on each grant page before you apply.
How do you check these grants?
We collect grants from official funder pages, GOV.UK, councils and community foundations, and remove them when they close. Each grant page links to its source and shows when we last checked it. Always confirm the details with the funder before you apply.
Start your free GrantMatch account
Tell us about your organisation once and GrantMatch shows the grants you are most likely to win, checks your eligibility and emails you when new funding for music opens. Free to start, no card needed.
Create free accountRelated pages
Sources and how we check
We collect grants from official funder pages and remove them when they close. Each grant page links to its source and shows when we last checked it. Always confirm the details with the funder before you apply. Guide sources: