Get Funding Ready: Watch our workshop about the Supporting Grassroots Music Fund

The LCR Music Board is committed to helping as many local music professionals as possible access the funding they need to grow and thrive. That’s why we teamed up with Arts Council England to host a free, in-person workshop focused entirely on one of the UK’s most valuable funding opportunities for the grassroots music sector: the Supporting Grassroots Music Fund.

This fund is one of the only public funding streams in the country that’s exclusively for grassroots music – backing the projects, spaces and promoters that keep local music alive.

If you run a:

• Rehearsal or recording studio
• Live or electronic music venue
  
• Music festival
  
• Promotion company
  

…this fund could be for you.

Over 100 local music professionals signed up for our recent workshop at Future Yard, where Arts Council Senior Manager Sean Kelly delivered an incredibly valuable presentation to over 80 attendees. He broke down the fund, step-by-step—from what the Arts Council is really looking for in an application, to how to stand out and avoid common pitfalls.

Didn’t make it on the day? You can still benefit.
We recorded the full presentation so that everyone in our community can access this practical advice.

Watch the full workshop presentation:

Sean and his two colleagues from Arts Council England also led one-to-one advice sessions on the day—giving tailored feedback and support to help people strengthen their proposals. If you missed the chance to get direct advice, don’t worry: you can still contact the Arts Council’s Supporting Grassroots Music team for help at supportinggrassrootsmusic@artscouncil.org.uk.

More about the Fund…

Grassroots music is where artists cut their teeth, communities come together, and scenes are built from the ground up. This fund is designed to support the spaces, people and projects that make all of that possible.

Whether you’re upgrading your sound equipment, launching a new event series, or developing a space for emerging talent, the Supporting Grassroots Music Fund could help you make it happen.

You can apply for between £1,000 and £40,000 for project-based activity. All applications must outline a clear timeline, goals, and a defined budget.

Applications are welcomed from all genres—from folk to grime, electronic to indie, and everything in between.

This fund does not support: Bands, solo artists, DJs or artist managers applying for their own tours, recordings or studio time, or Projects solely focused on community music or children’s learning. If your work falls outside the fund’s scope, you might still be eligible for support under the National Lottery Project Grants instead.

Make Your Application Stand Out

Here are a few key tips from the workshop:

• Include match funding – Show that at least 10% of your project’s costs are covered by other sources (like ticket income, sponsorship or in-kind support).
• Put audiences and artists at the heart – Be clear about who benefits from your project and how.
• Plan well – Set out a clear timeline, realistic budget, and defined outcomes.
• Use the Arts Council’s guidance – Their website includes essential documents on equipment, building works and more. Use these to strengthen your case.

Got questions? Reach out to: supportinggrassrootsmusic@artscouncil.org.uk