PRS Foundation

PRS Foundation Awards to Festivals 2008

Deadlines for application:
Tuesday 12 February 2008

Thursday 14 August 2008

Please note that this funding scheme has two levels of funding. You can download the application form for funding up to £3,000 below. If you wish to apply for more than £3,000, please call James on 020 7306 4228 or Eleanor on 020 7306 4231.

The PRS Foundation will focus its support on festivals whose main activity is the promotion of new music, by UK based music creators.

PRSF is unable to support festivals which are running for the first time. Your festival must have at least one year's track record.
Your festival must be taking place after 23 April 2008
(for February deadline) or 16 October 2008 (for August deadline).

PRSF will favour applications from festivals which, across all areas of their work:

have a strong track record of programming new music by music creators living/working in the UK
focus on showcasing new repertoire/songwriting talent/unsigned bands
are non-commercial festivals (i.e. registered charities, not for profit festivals)
are aiming to present new music in an understandable and exciting way to as wide an audience as possible
are innovative and adventurous in their programming/presentation
encourage composition/songwriting projects, workshops, masterclasses etc.

Applying for a specific element

In the case of many festivals e.g multi-arts festivals, PRSF recognises that not all activities will relate to new music. Therefore all festivals regardless of their nature are able to apply for a particular aspect of their festival which is relevant to The PRS Foundation. However in this case, they must show a major commitment to new music, ideally providing evidence of a discernible 'new music strand' within their programme.

Applying for commissions

If your festival is commissioning a single new work and simply requires funding for that (and not any other aspect of the festival) please refer to the PRS Foundation's New Works scheme.

Applying for new/unsigned bands

PRSF wishes to support unsigned band festivals which are taking a more strategic approach to the development of their artists. Therefore it is important that you can demonstrate several of the following:

development opportunities for the artists you showcase (rather than just a one-off isolated performance)
links to the music industry and/or other promoters which will provide new opportunities for your artists
provision of songwriting/performance/music industry workshops
A&R/professional development advice and assistance
all year round programmes of gigs/workshops leading up to the festival
unsigned/new bands integrated into the main programme of a festival which features more established bands mentoring schemes.

Before submitting an application, remember to read our guidelines for applying, available here.

Click here to download the 2008 application form