An A-Z of funding, work opportunities and other career resources for musicians in Scotland.
The Agar Trust
The Agar Trust supports young people (8-21) resident in rural Scotland, who demonstrate exceptional musical ability and potential and wish to further their musical education.
Candidates can apply for a grant towards attendance at an educational opportunity which relates directly to their musical studies. For example this might be: a short course; Saturday music schools; a concert, event or audition; further tuition at Junior departments of music schools etc.; rehearsals of a regional or national orchestra, or band, or choir; travel to any of the above.
The Agar Trust awards grants from £100 up to £1000. Applications are considered twice a year.
The Agar Trust
Awards for Young Musicians
We believe in giving talent a chance. So we remove financial and access barriers that prevent young people from achieving their ambitions to excel in making music. We inspire them to succeed by ensuring that they get the best possible support we can find.
Awards for Young Musicians
Born To Be Wide
Born to be wide host industry seminars and other events across Scotland, bringing together emerging artists and industry professionals. They also run Wide Days, an annual music convention in Edinburgh, an important industry-facing showcase for bands and songwriters.
Helpful online resources include a series of Off The Record videos on YouTube and Wide Days' YouTube channel. Both offer expert advice on every aspect of the music industry, from radio play listing to music photography.
British Council - Funding For Musicians
Tips and advice from the British Council for funding in the music industry.
<a href="http://music.britishcouncil.org/resources/uk-music-funding-and-support
">British Council Funding
British Record Industry Trust
The Trust provides grants to UK charitable organisations that encourage young people to become involved in music by exploring and pursuing the educational, cultural or therapeutic benefits that emanate from music. Those with a relevant project who are interested in applying for funding should print, complete and post the application form available on the website
British Recording Industry Trust
Creative Scotland - Youth Music Initiative
Creative Scotland administers the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative (YMI) programme which creates access to high-quality music-making opportunities for young people aged 0-25 years, particularly for those that would not normally have the chance to participate.
<a href="http://www.creativescotland.com/funding/funding-programmes/targeted-funding/youth-music-initiative
">The Youth Music Initiative
Highland Youth Music
The Highland Youth Music Forum brings together organisations, tutors, schools, venues and musicians who provide music opportunities for young people in the Highlands. The forum promotes all genres of music including traditional, rock, jazz, pop, classical and more!
Highland Youth Music
Help Musicians
Help Musicians UK is a United Kingdom charity offering help for musicians throughout their careers.
With a comprehensive list of funders, grants and other financial assistance, Help Musicians UK helps over 2,000 musicians, covering a wide range of genres, ages and professions.
Help Musicians website
Hit the Road
Hit The Road is looking for young performers across Scotland. If you're between the ages of 14 and 19, living in Scotland and want to take your music out into the real world, we can help.
Hit the Road
Michael Tippett Musical Foundation
Funding of between £500 and £4,000 is available for the development of group music making, especially involving young people.
Trustees wish to see composition as central to projects put forward for support. Priority is given to projects which have composition at their centre.
The Michael Tippett Foundation website
Music Plus
A mentoring scheme run by the Scottish Music Centre and supported by Creative Scotland’s Youth Music Initiative and The Robertson Trust for those aged 14-19.
The aim of the project is to offer you one to one experience with music industry professionals who will offer guidance, encouragement, skills and knowledge across a range of industry roles from performance to event promotion.
Music Plus
New Music Scotland
New Music Scotland is a network of artists, ensembles, orchestras, composers, creators, music educators, sound artists, musicians, producers, promoters and anyone who believes in the importance and value of creating new music in Scotland. We are a cooperative that exists to connect, enable and support makers of innovative and experimental new music and our members help drive how we do that.
Opportunities in Scotland regularly updated:
New Music Scotland's website
Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Paul Hamlyn Foundation created this website to provide a portal for information on funding opportunities for individual artists and composers.
The resource is based on a mapping exercise carried out in 2011 as part of a review of the PHF Awards for Artists, which supports visual artists and composers.
Paul Hamlyn Foundation/
PRS: For Music Foundation
The PRS for Music Foundation (PRSF) is the UK’s leading funder of new music across all genres. Its mission is to stimulate and support the creation and performance of new music throughout the UK and to ensure that this music is enjoyed by a wide audience.
The PRSF offers a range of funding programmes which are open to applications all year round.
PRS for Music Foundation
The Scottish Music Centre
The Scottish Music Centre’s mission is to champion Scotland’s music: past, present and future. Based in Glasgow's City Halls, we’re active across all music genres and engage with creative people of all ages and abilities.
From preserving our music heritage with the ever-expanding archive to representing contemporary composers and musicians, we support, promote and champion the wealth of talent that abounds in Scotland’s music community.
We provide essential services to Scotland’s music sector across several key areas and act as a conduit, a catalyst and a connector to those working in the sector and the public at home and abroad.
Scottish Music Centre's website
Sound and Music
The national charity for New Music, Sound and Music offers one of the most comprehensive and regularly updated listings of callouts for new work, commissions, and support for those working in the music industry.
Sound & Music's website
The Touring Network
Supporting promoters to stage professional music, dance, theatre and children's events across the Highlands and Islands.
<a href="
http://www.thetouringnetwork.com/">The Touring Network's website
XPO North
XpoNorth is a creative industries festival based in the Highlands and Islands, focused on bringing together leading industries speakers and delegates to network and learn.
XPO North's website