The purpose of Supporting Grass-roots Live Music is to support activities that help grass-roots music venues and promoters to deliver and develop their work, getting live music to more people across England. A total fund of £1.5 million will be available until 31 March 2023.
The National Lottery Project Grants programme is Arts Council England’s open-access programme for arts, museums and libraries projects. Supporting Grass-roots Live Music is part of Project Grants, with its own budget set aside for supporting organisations and individuals whose work focuses on the hosting and promotion of live music events in venues.
Grants of between £1,000 and £40,000 are available, for projects lasting up to a maximum of three years.Applicants must provide at least 10% of the total cost of their project using income from other sources. This can be cash support, or in kind, and could be the applicant’s own contribution (for example, ticket sales), and/or support from any partners in the project.
Applications will be accepted from organisations whose main function is to host and/or promote live music events in venues. Usually, this will be venues and promoters (or groups of venues and/or promoters).
The programme particularly seeks to support those venues and promoters who work in the grass-roots part of the sector (ie those working with new, developing talent in small to mid-size venues). The programme supports projects that bring the full spectrum of contemporary popular music genres to live audiences, which includes, but is not limited to:
- Electronic (including house, electronica, drum & bass, dubstep, experimental etc).
- Hip-hop, grime etc.
- Indie and alternative.
- Metal and punk.
- Pop.
- Rock (including blues, modern, post-rock etc).
Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until 31 March 2023.
Groups should first read the How to Apply documents and the supplementary guidance regarding the priorities and criteria. Applications are made using Arts Council England’s Grantium system.
- Applications for £1,000 and £30,000 are expected to receive a decision within eight weeks.
- Applications for £30,000 to £40,000 are expected to receive a decision within twelve weeks.
Contact Arts Council England for further information at https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/arts-council-national-lottery-project-grants/project-grants-time-limited-priorities#section-3 or 0161 934 4317 or enquiries@artscouncil.org.uk.