Managed by PRS Foundation, The Composers’ Fund supports up to 15 composers per year which provides an opportunity for composers with a strong track record, giving direct access to funding at pivotal stages in their career.

A contribution of up to £8,000 – £15,000 is available to composers who are already making a significant cultural contribution in the UK and have the potential for greater impact in the UK and overseas.

Previous projects have included recordings, the promotion and performance of existing works, international co-commissions and development, performer collaboration, residencies, sabbaticals or childcare costs and project or promotional support.

Previous recipients include the recent Award winners Errollyn Wallen, James Weeks, Hilda Paredes, Gavin Higgins and Erika Fox.

If you answer YES to the questions below you may qualify for The Composers Fund and should consider applying:

• Composers working in classical music with a strong track record in their field who are at a point in their development where access to funding would make a significant change to their career.
• Composers who are making a significant cultural contribution in the UK and an impact overseas.
• Composers writing primarily for live performance.
• Composers must be based in the UK and a member of PRS for Music*
• Composers who demonstrate critical acclaim and who have tangible potential to achieve a further significant profile**
• Composers must be working in Classical music genres (including but not limited to classical, contemporary classical, Dance, Opera, Sound Art, Indian Classical)

Composers applying for the Composers’ Fund must be at a crucial tipping point in their careers, showing current progression and growth as a composer with the potential to significantly develop their careers over the next two years.

Applications can be made by composers’ directly or representatives of the composer. Those who can apply on behalf of an artist are;

• Manager
• Booking agent
• PR
• Trusted advisor to the artist

Please note: Any resulting grant offer is made to the music creator. Authorised representatives can in effect project manage funded activity. However, should there be a change in team around the artist or should the funding support not reach the music creator, the PRS Foundation would reclaim monies paid/owed in order to ensure that the funds are used solely for the purposes outlined in the application directly for the benefit of the music creator.

Applicants will be able to apply for funds between £8,000 – £15,000. Proposed costs must be clearly presented and the average grant will be below the upper limit.

We will consider every application on a case-by-case basis. We are inviting composers to propose anything that would make a significant difference to their long-term development. This for example might include the following areas or others:

• Recording
• Promotion/performance of existing works – to get existing pieces performed again/toured in UK and internationally
• International co-commissions – assistance for composers to establish relationships with commissioning bodies overseas
• International development – travel to build relationships or spend time overseas, working with festivals or ensembles
• Performer collaboration – time to work more closely with performers
• Residencies/sabbaticals – with clearly defined artistic end result(s)
• Project or promotional support
• Childcare costs
• A combination of any of the above
• Anything a composer can make a valid case for*

• Organisations seeking funding for commissions via a composer applying on their behalf
• An investment where the composer has not made clear how there will be potential for a step change in their profile

What is the application process?

We advise you make a start on the application when you’re sure you’re eligible for this fund and have a clear plan in place for the next stages of your career.

The Composers’ Fund has 2 deadlines a year. We aim to communicate results back to all applicants with a decision within 10 weeks of a deadline passing. All our funding decisions for The Composers’ Fund are made by an expert group of panellists and you can find more info about our advisors and decision making process here.

All The Composers applications must be submitted by 6pm on the day of the deadline.

Please contact info@prsfoundation.com should you require any further information.

Check the deadlines page for the next deadline here and please be aware of our limits on maximum applications per calendar year.

What are the most common reasons applicants are unsuccessful?

Many applicants meet our funding criteria and score well. But high demand means we have to prioritise the highest scoring applications. The competitive nature of this fund is in most cases the reason an application has not been funded.

• Some applications are ineligible (e.g. applying for activity that is happening before the decision date).
• Applicants applying for 100% project costs from PRS Foundation are unlikely to be selected (we are unable to support full project costs).
• The activity plan submitted did not demonstrate how funding would have a significant impact on their careers.
• The activity did not highlight clearly why funding is needed.
• The application did not show enough confirmed provisional activity in detail.

What is a crucial career tipping point?

PRS Foundation understands that the journey for each music creator is unique, and therefore we are not prescriptive as to what constitutes a crucial career tipping point as this will vary between music creators.

As a guideline composers who are at the right level for this fund will have

• A strong UK profile
• Have had national or international broadcasts
• Been featured in the national press and in UK wide blogs
• Had works performed at UK or overseas festivals
• Had works performed at major concerts venues across the UK or overseas
• A recognised profile amongst UK commissioners and professional performers

It is worth noting that once you have received The Composers’ Fund you are ineligible for further support from the PRS Foundation except through our International Showcase Fund award and support through our organisation funds. This means you will not be able to apply for Women Make Music, The Open Fund for Music Creators, PPL Momentum Music Fund, Hitmaker or The Composers’ Fund again.

Can I apply to the Composers’ Fund and another scheme such as the Open Fund for Music Creators?

We advise applicants to only apply to the funding scheme that they feel best fits their career level and project.

If you have read all the guidance and checked the deadlines page

Apply Here