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Business News Management & Funding
PRS For Music Foundation to manage new Arts Council fund for artists
By Chris Cooke | Published on Friday 18 January 2013
The PRS For Music Foundation has been selected to run a new Music Industry Talent Development Fund being launched by Arts Council England. The first fund of its kind in England, the new initiative will make over half a million available to support artists and bands looking to take their next career step. Grants will be available to fund recording, writing, performing and touring projects. The industry-supported PRSF already offers various similar artist-centric grant schemes, so is an obvious body to administrate the new ACE fund.
Confirming the partnership with PRSF, Arts Council boss Alan Davey told CMU: “It’s the Arts Council’s job to champion the arts in its many varied forms and for all the arts that means supporting the talent who make it happen. Given the current tough economic climate this job is as important as ever”.
He continues: “Changes in the financial environment means that it is becoming increasingly difficult for talent to find the right kind of investment at the right time to allow them to get to the stage of making a living from creating and performing music. That’s what this fund is all about – I’m passionate about talent that has something to say being able to say it and be heard. This fund is the beginning of something that I hope will grow, and that we will learn from. It’s great being able to develop this programme in partnership with PRS For Music Foundation and in a small way to help the music industry in this country – and the talent that drives it – to remain as strong and vibrant as ever”.
Meanwhile PRSF CEO Vanessa Reed added: “As the UK’s leading funder of new music and the songwriters who create it, we’re proud to be delivering and contributing to this crucial talent development fund. Arts Council England has shown a real understanding of the music industry’s current challenges by making new investment available to talented solo artists and bands who need financial support to break through to the next level. We’re looking forward to using our twelve years of experience as a music industry funder and our extensive network of industry partners, experts, talented songwriters and musicians to ensure that this fund has a tangible and lasting impact”.
The new development fund will be formally launched in May.
