The charity Music For All is offering small grants and awards for not-for-profit organisations and schools in the UK and Ireland for projects that require financial support to develop sustainable music programmes.
Music For All tends to change its funding priorities for each grant round. In the current round of funding, Music For All is seeking to support community projects that focus on the following areas:
o Bechstein baby grand piano (Award) - this award is open to either an individual or community-based group. Applicants must illustrate the impact this award will have on advancing their music making and the barriers currently faced in accessing a high-quality instrument for practice and/or performance.
o Projects and community groups who support those with learning and cognitive challenges (Grant) - grants of up to £1,500 are available for community-based groups providing opportunities to make music to those with learning and cognitive challenges. These challenges include but are not limited to autism, aphasia, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, attention deficit and memory loss. Applications may be made by groups operating in caring and educational settings Applicants should be mindful to demonstrate ways in which the individuals they are working with will be engaging with music making, as opposed to experiencing others' performances.
o Projects and community groups who support those with degenerative conditions (Grant) - grants of up to £1,500 are available for community-based groups providing opportunities to make music to those with with degenerative conditions. These conditions include but are not limited to illnesses such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's, Parkinson's, dementia, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, motor neuron diseases and cancers. Applications from groups operating in caring settings including care homes and hospitals are welcomed. Applicants should be mindful to demonstrate ways in which the individuals they are working with will be engaging with music making, as opposed to experiencing others' performances.
o Projects supporting secondary-school-aged children (Grant) - grants of up to £1,500 are available for community-based groups providing opportunities to make music to children and young-people aged between 11-16. Applications from groups operating in caring as well as more formal educational settings are welcomed. Applicants should be able to demonstrate the ways in which their project/group nurtures underprivileged young talent.
o Projects using electric guitars (Award) - for community groups supporting disadvantaged music makers, using electric guitars. Applicants will need to illustrate the impact this award will have on advancing the music making of their group.
o Projects using analogue synthesisers - for community groups supporting disadvantaged music makers, using electric guitars. Applicants will need to illustrate the impact this award will have on advancing the music making of their group, and
o Arturia Analog Lab V (Award) - this plug-in comprises thousands of world-class sounds spanning all genres of music, suitable for producers and musicians alike. This award is open to either an individual or community-based group. Applicants should be able to demonstrate how their group is already working with technology and how this software will enhance their work.
Small grants and awards of equipment generally tend to be up to the value of £1,500 are available. Music for All generally has a limited grants project, so eligible organisations that are able to secure other financial contributions to their project are likely to be prioritised.
Music For All will be looking for the following qualities in an application when considering whether to make an award:
1. The number of new musicians the project will create and support.
2. The sustainability of the project, so that beneficiaries are able to continue their musical journey, and
3. Whether there are any other organisations supporting the project that can help with funding, or if funding applications have been made to other charities. Music for All likes to help as many applicants as it can, so often works with other organisations to enable projects to gain the full support required.
Further information, guidance and an online application for is available on the Music For All website.
The deadline for applications is 23:59 on Friday 28th April 2023.
