This is our regularly-updated who’s who of music funding: the organisations worth knowing whether you’re an artist, a band, a venue or a community group in Northern Ireland. Each entry explains what the funder supports and who can apply. For deadlines and calls that are open right now, head to Live Funding for NI Artists, which we update as new opportunities come in.
For artists, bands and composers
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
The main public funder of the arts in Northern Ireland, distributing Department for Communities and National Lottery money. Individual musicians can apply through the Support for Individual Artists Programme, which includes project awards, Major Individual Awards and travel awards, plus an international development fund run with the British Council. Bands and groups can seek new instruments, and organisations can apply for project, capital and small grants. Most schemes open once a year.
PRS Foundation
The UK’s leading charitable funder of new music, and creators based in Northern Ireland can apply. The Open Fund for Music Creators supports new work, while the International Showcase Fund helps artists with a confirmed invitation to play showcases overseas. Targeted schemes such as POWER UP and Women Make Music run alongside these, and its Talent Development Network funds NI organisations including Oh Yeah Music Centre and the Nerve Centre.
PPL Momentum Music Fund
Grants of £5,000 to £15,000 for artists and bands at a pivotal point in their careers, towards recording, touring and marketing. The Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Invest NI co-fund it, which gives acts from here a dedicated route in, and live dates in the Republic of Ireland can be supported for NI acts. It’s built for artists who already have momentum, such as national press or radio support and a team around them.
Help Musicians: career funding
The UK’s independent charity for musicians, with career funding open to musicians living anywhere in the UK, Northern Ireland included. Fast Track offers small grants for time-sensitive costs like recording, equipment or courses. Fast Track Live supports tours, festival slots and showcases, and the Next Level Award backs bigger career steps. You can usually hold one award at a time, and band members apply as individuals.
Help Musicians: health and welfare
Help Musicians also supports working musicians through illness, injury, mental health difficulties and personal crisis. Where health problems stop someone earning, it can offer financial help alongside wellbeing, physical health and hearing support. Applicants generally need to be 18 or over, living in the UK and earning a significant share of their income from music.
Belfast City Council and Belfast City of Music
Belfast City Council funds culture through its strategy A City Imagining and its music roadmap, Music Matters, as part of Belfast’s UNESCO City of Music work. Schemes change from year to year and have included Cultural Multi-Annual Grants, Bank of Ideas, Teenage Kicks micro-grants for under-18s gigs and music bursaries with Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival and The Duncairn. Most need a Belfast base or Belfast-based activity. For bursaries, funds, guidance and events as soon as they’re announced, follow Belfast City of Music on Instagram below. Outside Belfast, check your own council’s arts grants too.
UK Artist Touring Fund
Tops up UK tours by emerging and mid-level artists that would otherwise lose money. It’s run by the Featured Artists Coalition with the Music Managers Forum and the Musicians’ Union, and paid for by the LIVE Trust’s voluntary ticket levy. Grants cover a share of tour costs, and tours need a run of UK headline shows in small to mid-sized venues. It opens in funded phases, so check whether a round is live.
Arts Council England: Music Growth Package
A major UK-wide investment in music careers and businesses, delivered mostly by Arts Council England. The Music Creators Growth Fund backs experienced artists and the Music Growth Fund supports music businesses, with match funding needed for both. Applicants based in Northern Ireland can only apply for activity aimed at international markets, so a plan for touring or showcasing abroad is the way in. Read ACE’s guidance for NI applicants before you start.
BPI: Music Export Growth Scheme
Run by the BPI with the Department for Business and Trade, the scheme helps UK-based independent music companies fund international campaigns for their artists, from marketing and promotion to touring. It suits NI labels and managers working with acts that already have solid UK traction and a clear plan overseas. Applicants are companies rather than artists on their own, and they normally match part of the cost.
For organisations, venues and community groups
National Lottery Awards for All Northern Ireland
Grants of £300 to £20,000 for community projects in Northern Ireland lasting up to two years. Music projects fit well where they bring people together or help people reach their potential. Constituted groups, charities, not-for-profit companies and schools can apply, while individuals and sole traders can’t. Bigger projects can look at The National Lottery Community Fund’s Strengthening Communities programme.
Arts & Business Northern Ireland
Its Investment Programme, funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, matches new business sponsorship of NI arts organisations. A lead arts partner can receive up to £15,000 in match funding in a financial year, which makes it a strong fit for venues, festivals, ensembles and music charities building relationships with local companies. It runs several rounds a year, and the organisation also offers training and resilience programmes.
Community Foundation for Northern Ireland
The largest local independent funder in Northern Ireland, running grant programmes on behalf of donors, companies and government. Funds open and close through the year and mostly support constituted community and voluntary groups, so community bands, choirs and youth music projects are the likeliest fit. It also looks after named funds such as the Thomas Devlin Fund for young creatives.
Paul Hamlyn Foundation
One of the UK’s largest independent funders, and organisations in Northern Ireland can apply. For music organisations, the most relevant open route is the Arts-Based Learning Fund, for charities and not-for-profits working in partnership with schools. Its larger Arts Fund is currently closed to new applicants, so it’s worth checking back. All of its funding is for charitable work.
Music for All
A UK charity helping people facing financial, social or health barriers to make music, through donated instruments and small cash grants. Individuals, schools and not-for-profit community groups across the UK, Northern Ireland included, can apply in award rounds held several times a year, with the categories changing from round to round.
Matthew Good Foundation: Grants for Good
Unrestricted funding for small charities, community groups and social enterprises with an annual income under £50,000. Each quarter a shortlist of organisations shares a pot of funding, and any cause that benefits its community is eligible, so community music groups can apply. It’s very competitive, but Northern Ireland groups have won recent rounds.
For young people
Youth Music: NextGen Fund
Grants of up to £3,000 for early-stage artists, producers and music professionals aged 18 to 25 anywhere in the UK, rising to 30 for those who are d/Deaf, disabled or neurodivergent. It prioritises people who don’t have the money or industry contacts to make an idea happen. Youth Music’s grants for organisations are for England only, but NextGen is open to applicants here.
Thomas Devlin Fund
Set up in memory of Thomas Devlin, a 15-year-old killed in north Belfast in 2005, and run by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland. Its annual bursaries help young people aged 15 to 19 develop in music and the performing and creative arts, through opportunities such as courses, residencies and travel. Equipment and formal tuition fees aren’t covered, and it opens once a year.