Funding Round-up – Arts and Culture, September 2021

Here is a collection of funding rounds from local and national organisations focusing on arts and culture themes aimed at helping charities continue their work in light of the Coronavirus outbreak.

Due to the varying nature and progress of the pandemic, MVA do advise that some of the information below may have changed since the time of its issue, and ask that readers please check each organisation’s website for the latest information.

Open Fund for Organisations from PRS Foundation
Grants of up to £10,000 are available from the PRS Foundation for any not-for-profit organisation based in the UK to support new music projects led by promoters, large performance groups, talent development organisations, venues, festivals and curators in the UK.
The Foundation's funding priorities are:

• To support the creation and performance of outstanding new music in any genre
• To enable the UK’s most talented music creators to realise their potential
• To inspire audiences at a local, regional, national and international level

Funding includes support for: touring, recording, promotion and marketing (provided there is also an element of creation or performance to be funded), commissions of new music by UK-based creators’ exciting community projects involving high-quality music creators, music creator residencies, and live programmes featuring new UK music.
The deadline for applications is 6pm on Monday 18^th October 2021, with further dates to be confirmed.
For more information and how to apply, visit the Foundation’s website.

Coronavirus Hardship Fund from Music Union
Grants of up to £200 are available to Music Union (MU) members.
In response to the widespread cancellation of work that has hit the music profession as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, MU says this fund will support members that are experiencing genuine and pressing hardship.
At the time of writing there was no deadline specified, so enquiries to apply for the funding could be made at any time.
For more information and how to apply, visit the MU website.

Funding from Fenton Arts Trust
Funding is available to support individual works, activities, performances or prizes in the fields of drama, painting, sculpture, ballet, music, poetry and architecture in the UK.
The Fenton Arts Trust is an arts charity whose aims are to give encouragement and financial support to those actively contributing to the creative arts in the UK, and provides grants to support or reward work or performances by individuals early in their careers and for institutions or organisations that share these aims.
At the time of writing there was no deadline specified, suggesting applications for the funding could be made at any time.
For more information and how to apply, visit the Trust's website.

Grants to Support Grassroots Live Music from National lottery
Funding is available from the Arts Council England (ACE) to grassroots music venues and promoters in England to present live music programming, and for activities that put them in a better position to deliver their work in the long term.
The programme aims to support projects that bring the full spectrum of contemporary popular music genres to live audience; and grants of up to £40,000 are available, for projects lasting up to a maximum of three years.
The funder is especially interested to hear from those venues and promoters who work in the grassroots part of the sector, or those working with new, developing talent in small to mid-size venues.
Although there is no specified deadline, the funder has advised grants will be available until Thursday 31^st March 2022.
More information and how to apply can be found on the ACE website.

Film and TV Production Restart Scheme
The UK Government has launched a funding program designed to help to get TV and film productions that were halted or delayed by a lack of insurance, back up and running.
The Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS) and HM Treasury recently announced the £500 million Film and TV Production Restart Scheme which aims to help film and TV shows struggling to get insurance for COVID-related risks to get back into production.
It makes direct compensation available to producers that incur costs caused by coronavirus abandonment or delays to eligible pre-existing and new productions.
The funder advises that interested parties must register for the scheme by 31^st October 2021 to be considered.
More information can be found at the Government website.

If you would like to see coverage of specific funding or grant rounds to help your charity, your project, your community group or enterprise, you can get in touch by email at info@mva.org.uk, you can also contact MVA via the website.