​Arts Council England to give further £1.5 million in funding to grassroots live music

Arts Council England are due to award £1.5 million to a number of grassroots live music organisations across England this September with the return of The National Lottery Project Grants.

The support scheme has been extended to September 2025 and will apply this time to grassroots live music promoters, venues, and more throughout England.

Since its launch in 2019, £7.23 million has been invested into 378 projects from London to Bath and further afield, with an additional £500,000 grant going to Music Venue Properties, set up by Music Venue Trust.

Read this next: Arts Council England and Mode London to offer free DJ workshops for 18-25 year olds

The money will go toward administration costs and the purchase of several freehold grassroots music venues in England. A further £1.5 million will be released in September 2023 to support the sector.

“Grassroots music venues are important community assets that do vital work both within the industry - such as supporting talent development - as well as outside of it, like helping audiences discover their new favourite artists,” says Claire Mera-Nelson, Director at Music at Arts Council England.

“I am excited about the opportunities today’s announcements present and strongly urge the grassroots live music sector to continue to develop strong funding applications and to work collaboratively with us over the coming years.” 

Read this next: Music Venue Trust has raised nearly £2.5 million to bring grassroots venues under public ownership

In March, Arts Council England teamed up with Mode London to offer free DJ workshops to 18-25 year olds. The scheme was set up for those living in Haringey, London, also offering industry advice, panels, and discussions.

Speaking on the extended grant scheme, CEO and Founder of Music Venue Trust, Mark Davyd, said: “There is still more work to do; the grassroots sector is facing very difficult conditions and challenges across the next few years.”

“These obstacles to creating a sustainable, thriving sector require exactly the sort of joined up and thoughtful interventions that the Arts Council England music team have delivered in the last few years.”

Find out how you can apply for the National Lottery Project Grants here.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Editorial Assistant, follow her on Twitter