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The Essentials Fund is a new grant scheme open to any composers, music creators or artists working creatively with music and sound, to purchase essentials for their practice.  

We will run several open calls annually, and reflect and evaluate our approach regularly to ensure this offer remains relevant and in line with our strategic aims. 

The first round of the Essentials Fund will open on 11 October 2024, and second round will be announced in early 2025. We hope to support at least 20 composers each year through the Fund. 

The Essentials Fund builds on our learning from the Francis Chagrin Award and the COVID-19 Composer Awards and it is made possible thanks to the generous legacy of Francis Chagrin, Founder of the Society for the Promotion of New Music (SPNM). 

How does it work?

The Essentials Fund is a small grant of between £250-£500 to support your work through paying for self-learning projects, equipment, mentoring, and other direct costs for a project or to support your artistic development in other ways.

Below is an example, not an exhaustive list, of the types of activities this Fund can support:  

  • an online course 
  • a programme of coaching or mentoring sessions
  • acquiring 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) 
  • 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 

We are looking for applicants who have a clear idea of the activity or support they would like to access, what difference this will make and who will be able to pay for both the activity and their own time with the Fund. 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 
  • 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 an open application on another of our programmes at the same time 

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 Equality, 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 for this round open on Friday 11 October 2024 and close on Friday 8 November 2024, 23:59 GMT. Applications must be received by the closing date to be considered. 

The application form will be 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 we will only accept applications to one of our Funds or artist development programmes at any given time (e.g., Essentials Fund and In Motion). If you apply to both the Essentials Fund and In Motion, we will only consider the latest received application and will discard the other one. 

We recommend you consider carefully which pathway is most likely to meet your needs when making an application. 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 Sound and Music team members and an external panellist, who will be announced on 11 October 2024 when applications open. 

High-scoring applications are shortlisted, and the panel then meet to make their selection for the Essentials Fund.  

We will inform all applicants of the outcome of their application by Friday 22 November 2024. We offer feedback to all applicants who request it.

See also


Photograph from a performance, in a dusty ound hall dancers pull sheets of fabric in a circle

In Motion is our annual artist development programme for anyone aged 18 and over working with music and sound in the UK. It is artist-led and celebrates the curious and intrepid.

Young people sit in a row facing forwards and smiling

In the Making is our annual trailblazing artist development programme for young people aged 14-18, including a one-week residential in Huddersfield followed by a 12-month programme of online tutor groups, workshops, and composition tasks, and a final showcase.

Sharon Gal performing, a New Voices 2019 composer

New Voices was an 18-month programme that ran from 2018 to 2023 and supported composers at pivotal stages of their careers to explore new ideas, new sounds and new music. 

Find out more about New Voices and the composers we supported