Funding

Supporting the work of professional composers

The Foundation offers funding towards:

The performance, commissioning or recording of music by professional composers active in the last 100 years who have not yet achieved a broad national or international reputation, or by composers entering the profession.  

  • – Composers are at the heart of our support. We expect budgets to show they are fairly compensated for their work.
  • – Grants will generally only be awarded for notated music, scored for live performers. (Repertoire which combines electronics with live performers will be considered.)
  • – Supported repertoire must be by named composers of British or Irish nationality, or who have been resident in the UK for a minimum of five* years.
  • – Ensembles, organisations, individual performers or composers may apply.
  • – We do not generally support the performances of composers currently in higher education, or performances by student ensembles.  

and/or

Projects or organisations in the UK which create developmental opportunities for composers or which promote public knowledge and appreciation of British or Irish music of the last 100 years.

*three years if applying for the Vaughan Williams Scholarship

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are now open for work taking place from April 2026 onwards.

Get Ready

1. Please carefully read the guidelines for applicants which detail how to register, and what to include in support of your application. You should ensure that your project aligns with the guidelines and that you are happy to agree to our funding conditions.

Register

2. Click the button below to register your application by completing a brief online form. On registering you will receive an email confirmation containing a personal link so that you can:

Upload

4. Upload your supporting information via the link you have received.

To be considered all information must be uploaded by the given deadline. We do not accept applications via post or email. Applicants will be emailed with the outcome 12 weeks after the deadline.