Arts Council England launches £10,000-£20,000 fund for established music creators
Arts Council England has launched a new Music Creators Growth Fund, offering grants of between £10,000 and £20,000 to established music creators looking to develop their careers and pursue new creative opportunities.
The fund is open to artists, artist collectives, bands, composers, DJs, groups, producers and songwriters working across all genres. Applicants will need to demonstrate a sustained professional creative practice and a strong track record developed over at least three years.
The programme is intended to provide direct investment in individual music creators, helping them develop their work, explore new opportunities and build more sustainable careers. Arts Council England said the scheme had been developed in response to feedback from the music sector about the importance of direct access to investment.
Claire Mera-Nelson of Arts Council England said, ‘Through our work to develop the Music Growth Package we’ve heard about the vital role played by direct access to investment.’
She added that the organisation was looking forward to receiving applications ‘from artists and music creators across the country, working in every genre’.
The first application round will open on 1 October 2026 and close on 29 October 2026. A second round will run from 6 January to 3 February 2027, with further rounds expected to be announced subsequently.
The Music Creators Growth Fund forms part of the wider £45m Music Growth Package, which combines up to £30m of UK Government support with an additional £15m from Arts Council England. The wider programme also includes funding for music businesses, venues and sector organisations, alongside schemes supporting international development and export.
For applicants in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, eligibility can depend on where the proposed activity takes place, and Arts Council England advises applicants to consult the country-specific guidance alongside the main programme information.