PRS OPEN GRANTS PROGRAMME

The PRS Open Grants programme is intended to help support, sustain and promote the growth of the new music infrastructure in the UK.

The Foundation's funding priorities are:

o To support the creation and performance of outstanding new music in any genre;
o To develop artists to their full potential;
o To inspire audiences UK-wide.

Applications are accepted from not-for-profit organisations, including promoters, large performance groups, talent development organisations, venues and curators including:

o Organisations that are limited by guarantee and/or a registered Charity;
o Individuals and sole traders;
o Community Interest Companies (CIC);
o Non-music organisations including local authorities, museums, etc.

To be eligible for funding organisations must be based in the UK.

Organisations may apply for up to £10,000. The Foundation prefers some match funding to be in place. Administration costs relating to the project can be funded to a maximum of 10% of the total budget. A maximum of £5,000 can be used towards recording costs.

Projects must involve the creation, performance and promotion of new music and enable songwriters, composers, artists, bands and performers of all backgrounds to develop creatively and professionally.

The scheme aims to support:

o Projects involving the creation, performance or promotion of new music by living, UK-based music creators (e.g. a commission, residency, education project or tour).
o Recording costs;
o Programmes that strongly feature or are based around new music (eg promoting a series of live events featuring outstanding new music, the new music component of a festival programme, artist/composer/talent development programme or multiple commissions);
o Equipment/rehearsal space hire if it is an essential part of the project;
o Administrative costs (eg time spent organising the project, letters, printing, stamps);
o Development time (eg the time it will take the music creator to work on the new material);
o Promotional activity/PR costs relating directly to your development as a music creator/the project;
o Website creation (only if crucial to the promotion of the project);
o Music videos when part of wider project activity;
o Musician fees (the PRS will not fund a project if projects do not pay musicians);
o Contingency (up to 10% of the total project budget);
o Concerts, record launches, gigs, tours, installations, festivals and promoters which feature a significant programme of new UK music.

There's a long list of exclusions. Funding is not available for:

o Individuals in full-time education;
o Under 18s, unless represented by an adult with a valid DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check;
o Those resident outside of the UK;
o Those without a track record of more than 18 months;
o Projects where the lead composer/songwriter is a member of another Performance Rights Organisation (ie UK based music creator must either be a member of PRS or should be in a position to join);
o Companies limited by shares (although these are considered on a case-by-case basis);
o Projects that contain no element of live performance (unless applying for recording costs only);
o Technology projects (unless they contain a significant aspect of new music creation);
o The purchase of vans or cars;
o Bursaries, tuition/education costs, or scholarships;
o Capital projects (eg building work);
o Any project raising funds for another charity;
o Buying equipment;
o Building a studio;
o Organisations or projects that have been running for less than 18 months;
o Music creators who do not have a track record of 18 months or more;
o Retrospective activity (ie projects that have already taken place);
o Activity that falls before the grant decision date;
o Organisations or music creators based outside the UK;
o British music creators no longer permanently resident in the UK;
o Composers and songwriters who are members of other performance rights collection societies;
o International tours/recording internationally;
o Radio stations/broadcasting costs;
o Start-up companies or record labels;
o A roster of artists on a record label;
o Living costs and salary costs;
o Core funding.

PRS are also unable to offer:

o Comments or advice on applicant’s music;
o Advice on signing to a label or how to organise tours/projects; o Advice on gigs/venues;
o Advice on promoting your music, unless it has been directly funded by PRS for Music Foundation;
o Application form checking, prior to submission (however, applicants can email PRS with specific questions).

The remaining stage one application deadlines for 2017 are:

o Monday 8 May; and
o Monday 2 October.

Applications must be made via the online application form on the Foundation's website.

Applicants successful at Stage One will be invited to complete a full Stage Two application.

Contact details for the PRS for Music Foundation are:

Enquiries
The PRS for Music Foundation
2 Pancras Square
London N1C 4AG
Email: info@prsformusicfoundation.com
(No phone number is provided by the Trust.) 

(Source: GRIN)