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Business News Management & Funding
BBC and Musicians Benevolent Fund announce new grant schemes
By CMU Editorial | Published on Friday 23 March 2012
Some funding things now, and the BBC Performing Arts Fund earlier this week announced that it was setting aside £450,000 to fund grass roots music projects. The Fund earns money from phone votes on BBC entertainment shows, and will get new monies from phone votes on the Beeb’s new singing competition franchise ‘The Voice’, which kicks off tomorrow night.
There will be two music-focused initiatives. The Community Music funding scheme will launch in May and offer grants of up to five grand for UK-based grass roots music groups looking to carry out training, attract new audiences or raise their profile in their community. The Music Fellowships scheme will kick off in August and offer funding for individuals looking to establish themselves in the professional world through bespoke placements within existing music organisations.
Dorothy Wilson, Chair of the BBC Performing Arts Fund, told CMU: “Music has been part of the BBC Performing Arts Fund since it was formed out of ‘Fame Academy’. We will continue that support by investing in community groups such as choirs, bands and orchestras as well as nurturing new talent across the UK”.
More at www.bbc.co.uk/performingartsfund/
Elsewhere, the Musicians Benevolent Fund also launched a new funding programme this week called the Emerging Excellence Awards. Also aimed at individuals at the start of their careers – though specifically performers and composers – grants of up to three grand will be available “to fund an important development opportunity, project or extended programme of activity that will have a lasting impact on their professional career”.
Said the Fund’s CEO David Sulkin: “This is an exciting opportunity for some of the most talented and adventurous young musicians to receive targeted support towards their creative and professional development. We know from recent research that the first few years in the profession can be a struggle and the Musicians Benevolent Fund wants to help address that”.
The first round of applications closes on 21 May – helpmusicians.org.uk/eea
