A common obstacle faced by independent artists is a lack of resources. Drive and ambition can often feel stunted by the growing costs of necessary studio time, an important mixing plugin, or a replacement of an ancient computer running on fumes. For some, the feeling caused by knowing what you need but not having the funds to acquire it is misinterpreted as a sign that the project isn’t meant to be, or not worth the risk if there’s no promise of reward.
Though we’re quick to ask the people in our immediate circle for advice or support, or perhaps companies or collectives we know from social media for an opportunity, rarely do we think to look just a little further at what’s being offered on a national level. Every country has its own system, but many don’t know that there exist a number of private and public funds, organizations, and programs that are made to give resources to performing artists and musicians who could benefit from financial backing and a bigger platform.
1. Types of Support
Artists and musicians can access support through a number of means, depending on their country. Some places have government programs for musicians, which pay artists as though they were full time employees, while most others have grant programs or artist residencies.
Grant programs offer artists budgets to help them bring a project to life. These budgets can be anywhere from $100 to $100,000 depending on the project and reach of the artist. This is an enormous help for musicians whose fees have been stacking up: studio time, engineers, videographers, graphic designers, promotion, marketing, etc.
Artist residencies allow artists to collaborate with other artists in their field, often living together in the process. They are hosted by cultural institutions, festivals, organizations and such, and are held for the purpose of creation. Music residencies often see songwriters, producers, singers, engineers, and instrumentalists come together for a period of time to quite simply make music together and teach each other skills they may not have otherwise acquired on their own.
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2. What’s Out There
Whether you live abroad or wish to travel, it’s a great idea to do some research on what type of support you can get wherever you are!
Here’s a list of what systems are in place in the countries we work in here at Groover:
USA 🇺🇸
Most music grants in the US are offered by the National Endowment for the Arts, which operates under the federal government. NEA grants are more geared towards ensembles and groups rather than individuals, but all are encouraged to apply. The grants are offered on a project basis, so you must have a specific idea in mind before applying, and can range from $10,000 to $100,000. There are many other private and public institutions who offer grants and/or host artist residencies, such as ASCAP, Artist Relief, NASAA, Black Artists Fund, BMI and various state arts councils.
UK 🇬🇧
There are a number of organizations who seek to fund young artists and composers in the UK. There, grants are known as bursaries, and are offered by: Arts Council England Creative Practice ($2000-$10,000), the Annual British Trombone Society ($250), Arts Council National Lottery Project ($1,000-$100,000), Creative Scotland Open Fund, the PRS Composer’s Fund (up to $10,000), and more.
France 🇫🇷
France is a special case, because they have a very artist-friendly government system in place called the “intermittent entertainer” system. Because working artists are often hired on temporary or short-term contracts, they are considered job-seekers when they are not working, and therefore receive money (minimum wage) from the government between contracts. This system is essentially as a job status, and works similarly to unemployment insurance in the US. You can apply for this status as a performing artist or a stage technician for theater productions. However, in order to obtain the status, you have to have worked for at least 507 hours over the last 10 months. This is difficult to do as solely a performer, so many artists use other duties (editing, engineering, teaching) to meet the requirements.
Canada 🇨🇦
In Canada, support is offered through programs such as the Canada Council for the Arts, FACTOR (the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings), and provincial arts councils. In Quebec, MUSICACTION, CAC (Conseil des Arts du Canada), and CALQ (Conseil des Arts et Lettres du Quebec) all provide aid in the creation of a project, offering grants ranging from $2000 to $100,000. Given the generosity of these grants, the application process can be very competitive!
Spain 🇪🇸
In Spain, some grants are provided by the government, while most are offered by private organizations and are project-based. National grants are offered by the Ministry of Culture and Sports (for the production, promotion, and training of music and dance projects) and INAEM (for putting on festivals, concerts, and tours). Regional and local grants are offered by the ICEC in Catalonia, the Madrid City Council, and the Barcelona City Council. Private foundations offering support are the Fundación SGAE, Fundación BBVA, and Fundación La Caixa.
Italy 🇮🇹
On top of having a number of public and private institutions ready to offer grants, residencies, and fellowships to its citizens, Italy has many funding opportunities geared toward cultural exchange. This means if you are a foreigner hoping to travel or move to Italy, or you are Italian and wish to leave, you have lots of options! Government funding is offered by MIBACT (Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who offer worldwide scholarships and project grants. Their extensive guide lists all the details you might need here.
Germany 🇩🇪
The German Music Council also supports artists through competitions, prizes, awards and scholarships, and offers social services to ensure that artists have the funding for their projects. There are many “Künstlerhaus” locations, which translates to “art house” – for example, Künstlerhaus Schöppingen is a residency that offers stipends and fellowships of 2-6 months for interdisciplinary arts. Similar programs are offered by GEMA, DAAD Artists in Berlin, Schloss Balmoral, Künstlerhaus Lukas, and Schloss Solitude, to name a few. Initiative Musik also funds the arts, and can provide up to $30,000 per project.
Netherlands 🇳🇱
The Dutch government’s Performing Arts Fun offers subsidies for those working in music, theater, and dance. This means funding for developing project and productions, concert and festival performance, international exchange projects (like Italy), competitions, and composition. In order to be awarded a grant, you must reside in the Netherlands, however you can apply as an organization outside the Netherlands if you wish to perform there. Apply digitally at the Performing Arts Fund website.
3. Before Applying
For all grants and funding opportunities, you must read the application guidelines.
- Make sure you fit the eligibility criteria (age, specialty, country of residence) and understand the objectives of the program. Many are hosted with a specific goal in mind, so you must align with what they’re looking for in order to be considered.
- Prepare well – have press kit or a portfolio ready to showcase what you do. If you’re applying to a project-based grant, develop a project idea complete with budget, timeline, its mission, and its potential impact. This is essentially a project proposal.
- Submission – Follow their guidelines on how and where to submit, and ensure that all required documents are in order and included
4. After Applying
Remain professional and friendly, even if you do not get a response. It is possible that application reviews take time, so be patient and follow up on the status of your submission. Be prepared for possible feedback and the request of additional information. If you do not get the response you were hoping for, continue your craft and keep developing your ideas. Their decision is not a reflection of your abilities, as they may have been looking for something more specific. Continue applying to other grants in the meantime and keep your head up.
Good luck in your quest!
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