We’re delighted to announce that applications for Round Two of the Essentials Fund are now open.
Created to address the ever-increasing financial challenges of emerging and original music creators in the UK, this fund was established to provide vital financial support—helping artists overcome barriers and secure the essential tools and resources they need. It stands as a testament to our enduring commitment to empowering artists, having awarded over £250,000 in grants over the past five years.
The response to Round One was truly astounding. With a record-breaking 230+ applications, our panel awarded grants to 11 outstanding recipients, representing the immense talent, diversity, and creativity within the UK’s music-making community, spanning a wide range of genres and creative approaches.
Applications for Round Two are now open and close on Thursday 20 March 2025, at midnight—see below for details.
“Receiving the Sound and Music funding was a transformative experience that significantly shaped and redefined my creative journey. It provided essential financial support and instilled a deep sense of validation, affirming that my music and artistic voice truly matter.”
— Essentials Fund Awardee
How does it work?
The Essentials Fund offers small grants of £250–£400 to support your artistic development by covering costs for self-learning projects, equipment, mentoring, or other expenses directly related to your work. Multiple funding rounds will be available each year.
This fund can support a range of activities, including but not limited to:
- Enrolling in an online course
- Engaging in a structured coaching or mentoring sessions
- Purchasing and learning new software or hardware packages
- Acquiring technical equipment integral to the creation of a specified new work or livestreaming opportunity (e.g., LED lighting panels or camera)
- Developing a self-directed composition project that would benefit from a period of rehearsal, workshopping or collaboration with a musician(s), ensemble or other artistic collaborator (e.g., visual artist, other performing artist)
- Undertaking a recording of existing work with one or more musicians
The costs must be associated with a composing or music-making practice. We are looking for applicants who have a clear idea of the activity or support they would like to access and what difference this will make. There is no requirement to complete a new work or have a performance date secured.
Who can apply?
The Essentials Fund is open to any composer, music creator or artist working creatively with music and sound.
To be eligible you must:
- Be based in the UK
- Be aged 18 or over by the application deadline
- Not be in full or part-time education (in any subject) at the point of applying
- Not be on one of our artist-development programmes (New Voices, Seed Award, In Motion, In the Making, or an active commission) at the time of applying
- Not have received one of our funds, grants, commissions, awards, or participated on an artist development programme by Sound and Music in the last six months
We strongly encourage applicants from under-represented backgrounds, whether because of a protected or other characteristic, to apply to the Essentials Fund. We want to ensure that our work goes to support artists where the funding will have most impact. We know that despite many positive changes in recent years, there are many barriers in the sector that limit access to opportunities, and we actively want to address these imbalances. You can read more about our Fair Access Principles and our commitment to Equity, Inclusion and Diversity.
If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Grace Bailey (Grace.Bailey@SoundandMusic.org).
How do I apply?
Applications are now open for Round Two of funding. In this round of the Essentials Fund we will award a minimum of 11 grants of up to £400, with a minimum of six places awarded to composers in Levelling Up for Culture places.
Applications are open and the deadline to submit application is Thursday 20 March 2025, at midnight
In your application, we will ask you to explain what you want to spend the grant on and the total amount you are applying for.
The application form is on Airtable and we also accept video or audio applications. If you require the application form or information on this page in a different format in order to apply, please email Grace Bailey (Grace.Bailey@SoundandMusic.org).
In the application form, we will ask you the following:
- to submit a short biography (up to 100 words)
- to answer questions on our online form (or submit a video or audio application of no more than two minutes) in which you describe the proposed activity or purchase you want the Fund to contribute to and the impact it will have on your practice
- to complete our Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form
Please note that, if you have applied to In Motion 2025 and you are selected for the programme, you won’t be eligible to receive an Essentials Fund in this round.
If you have any questions, you are welcome to contact us to help you select the right opportunity for you.
What happens next?
Applications will be scored by a panel consisting of our team and an external panellist. For Round Two, the external panellist is our Composer Advisory Group member Anthony R. Green, composer, performer and social justice artist.
High-scoring applications are shortlisted and the panel meet to make the final selection for each round of the Essentials Fund.
We will inform all applicants of the outcome of their application by Monday 31 March 2025.
About Sound and Music
We are the UK’s charity for new music and sound. Our mission is to be the base camp for anyone in the UK who wants to make, experience or support new music and sound to shape the modern world.
We deliver artist-centred development programmes and essential funding to young, emerging and established artists breaking new ground across music-making in the UK. We lead research, campaigns, networks, archives and collections to further originality, discovery and equity within music.
For over 15 years Sound and Music has worked with thousands of music creators and hundreds of organisations to boost musical creativity, careers, cultures and communities; progressing inclusion and representation within new music in the UK.
The Essentials Fund is made possible through the generous support of Arts Council England and the Francis Chagrin Award.
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Learn more about the Essentials Fund
See previous Essential Fund awardees
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