Many freelance musicians are looking to replace lost income due to Covid-19, but not all musicians feel confident about navigating through the funding process. Photocredit: Shutterstock
Arts Council England (ACE) re-opened the Project Grants in July 2020, and are accepting applications. Naturally, many freelance musicians are looking to replace lost income due to Covid-19, but not all musicians feel confident about navigating through the funding process.
Please note: We’ve extended our grant application advice to now cover Developing Your Creative Practice applications, as well as continuing to offer advice on ACE National Lottery Project Grants. See our more recent article for more information.
Advice on your drafted Project Grant application
The MU is offering support for members who are applying for Project Grants. Once you have finished drafting your application form, you can send it to us in order that an independent funding advisor can check it prior to you submitting it.
This process will help to ensure that you have answered all of the questions and haven't omitted any vital information. Feedback and pointers will be given on a question-by-question basis to help strengthen your application.
The feedback won't be creative or comment upon the viability of your ideas – it is primarily to ensure that the application form has been completed satisfactorily. This will be particularly useful for those new to the funding process, but will also be beneficial to those who have some experience with ACE or other funders.
Applications you would like to be reviewed should be sent to funding@theMU.org.
Further guidance on preparing your funding application
We recently hosted two webinars in which ACE reps explained the application process for their National Lottery Project Grants, and outlined what information to include when completing an application form. The slides from these webinars are available, and will prove useful to those applying for a Project Grant. You can e-mail funding@theMU.org for a copy of the slides.
You may also find our recently published “Guide to Applying for an ACE Project Grant,” article by Jess Partridge a useful source of advice.