Grants of between £1,000 and £40,000 are available to UK music support organisations and music creators to develop the growth in new music across the UK.
The Arts Council’s Music Growth Fund (MGF) is a new investment programme designed to support growth in new music across the UK. The Arts Council defines new music as “original music (ie live performance, sound recording or musical work) recently or newly created or performed by living, UK-based artists or music creators”.
The Fund is open to music festivals, music managers, music promoters, music publishers, record labels, recording studios, rehearsal spaces and grassroots music venues as well as the established sector bodies and other sector support organisations that support them.
Please also refer to the MGF Applicant Specific Guidance (available through the Applicant Type pages on the Music Growth Package page) for detailed guidance for each of these applicant types.
The Music Growth Fund is being delivered through two strands:
- Strand 1 (currently open): £1,000 - £40,000. Total budget for 2026/27: £3,000,000. Applicants are expected to find at least 25% of the total budget as cash match funding.
- Strand 2 (currently closed): £40,001 - £100,000. Total budget for 2026/27: £2,000,000. Applicants are expected to find at least 50% of the total budget as cash match funding. For applications between £40,001 and £100,000, applicants are required to upload a completed finance template as part of their application in addition to their most recent financial statement. Sole traders may provide the completed finance template only.
Applications should focus on how investment will be used to support the growth of music businesses and/or the wider music industry, enhancing opportunities for artists and music creators, industry professionals, music fans and new audiences.
Growth initiatives may include increased reach, strengthened business models, improved sustainability, skills development, or expanded capacity, and will be different depending on the context and ambitions of each applicant.
Investment decisions are based on potential for growth, the effective use of funds, the contribution to a fairer and more inclusive music industry and the contribution to a climate resilient music industry. Please see the Decision-Making section for more details.
The next deadlines for applying to the Fund are:
- Strand 1 (£1,000-£40,000): Thursday 16 November 2026 (the application window opened on Friday 16 October 2026). A further application round opens on Friday 27 November 2026 with a deadline of Thursday 7 January 2027.
- Strand 2 (£40,001 to £100,000): opens on Monday 23 November 2026 with an application deadline of Friday 15 January 2027.
Please note that all applicants are required to have an approved profile on the Arts Council’s grants management system before an application can be submitted.
Further information, guidance notes and details about how to apply is available on the Arts Council England website.