Music Jobs, Grants & Funding – August 2026 | MPW
Table of Contents
Why These Opportunities Matter
The PRS Open Fund for Music Creators
Studio Assistant Placement – Sounds Like These
ASCAP Foundation Music Is Our Foundation Scholarship
Connect & Create – Circulation of Performing Arts and Music 2027
Key Takeaways
This month, we’re featuring six opportunities, including funding for music creators, a paid studio placement, a scholarship for music students, international touring support and business development funding.
The PRS Foundation Open Fund offers grants of up to £5,000 to support the creation, performance and promotion of new music by UK-based music creators.
Sounds Like These is offering a paid, part-time Studio Assistant placement at Strongroom Studios in London, providing hands-on experience in music production, sound design and studio operations.
The ASCAP Foundation Music Is Our Foundation Scholarship provides financial support to eligible undergraduate and graduate students studying music in the United States.
Connect & Create supports the circulation of performing arts and music projects between Sub-Saharan Africa and the European Union, covering up to 70% of eligible project costs.
Arts Council England’s Music Growth Fund offers grants of £1,000–£40,000 to eligible UK-based music businesses and organisations, with a minimum 25% cash match funding requirement.
Creative Australia’s Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups offers A$10,000–A$50,000 for national and international activities across all arts practices.
Eligibility requirements and deadlines vary, so always check the official application page and apply as early as possible.
Looking for the latest music jobs, grants and funding opportunities? This August roundup brings together six opportunities for music creators, students and music businesses, including recording support, a paid studio placement, international touring funding and professional development grants.
Looking for more opportunities? Explore our July 2026 roundup of music jobs, grants and artist development programmes.
Why These Opportunities Matter
Building a sustainable music career often requires more than creative talent. Access to funding, professional experience and international networks can give music creators the time, resources and confidence needed to move their work forward.
Each opportunity in this roundup supports a different stage of that journey, from gaining your first professional studio experience to financing a release, developing a music business or bringing a project to international audiences.
The PRS Open Fund for Music Creators
Ready to take your next music project further?
The Open Fund for Music Creators supports the development of outstanding UK-based music creators working across all genres and at different stages of their careers.
Grants of up to £5,000 are available for projects involving the creation, performance and promotion of new music. Funding may support:
Recording and release costs
Live performances and touring
Creative residencies
Collaborator and music creator fees
Marketing connected to the creation or performance of new music
Who Is It For?
The fund is open to UK-based:
Songwriters
Composers
Artists and bands
Producers or performers involved in the composition or songwriting process
Applicants should:
Be aged 18 or over, unless represented by an eligible adult
Have a track record of more than 18 months
Not be signed to a major record label
Not normally be in full-time education
Be a PRS member or in a position to join
Applications open: 17 August 2026
Deadline: 7 September 2026 at 6pm
Funding available: Up to £5,000
Location: United Kingdom
The fund cannot cover 100% of a project’s costs, so your application should also demonstrate income or support from other sources.
Apply through the PRS Foundation website
Studio Assistant Placement – Sounds Like These
Looking for hands-on experience inside a professional music studio?
Creative Opps and Sounds Like These are offering a paid, part-time Studio Assistant placement at Strongroom Studios in Shoreditch, London.
The successful applicant will support the day-to-day running of the studio while gaining experience in:
Music production
Sound design
Studio operations
Administration
Events
Content creation
Responsibilities may include organising and maintaining the studio, supporting client projects, researching new creative tools, assisting with Club WIP workshops, creating social media content and helping to produce sample packs.
Who Is It For?
This opportunity is ideal for an aspiring music producer, sound designer or studio professional who is passionate about music, eager to learn and comfortable working collaboratively.
Experience in music production or sound design would be useful. Knowledge of Logic Pro or Pro Tools, social media content creation, recording or studio workflows is desirable but not essential.
Start date: Week commencing 21 September 2026
Deadline: 25 August 2026
Pay: £14.80 per hour, plus travel expenses
Location: Strongroom Studios, Shoreditch, London – on site
Hours: Two days per week, 10am–6pm, ideally Thursdays and Fridays
Duration: Approximately two months
Applicants must complete the online application form and email their CV. Check the listing carefully for the latest deadline information before submitting.
Apply through Creative Lives in Progress.
ASCAP Foundation Music Is Our Foundation Scholarship
Studying music and looking for financial support?
The ASCAP Foundation Music Is Our Foundation Scholarship program provides financial assistance to eligible undergraduate and graduate students studying music in the United States.
The scholarship is awarded through a songwriting competition, requiring eligible students to submit an original song for consideration.
Who it’s for
The scholarship is open to eligible undergraduate and graduate students studying music who meet the program’s United States citizenship or legal residency requirements.
Applicants should review the official rules carefully before applying, as the programme includes specific eligibility, enrolment and submission requirements.
Deadline: 31 August 2026 at 11:59pm ET
Eligibility: US citizens or legal residents studying music at undergraduate or graduate level
Location: United States
If you are currently studying music and have an original song ready to share, this could be a valuable opportunity to receive financial support for your education.
Apply through the ASCAP Foundation website
Connect & Create – Circulation of Performing Arts and Music 2027
Planning an international tour or cross-border performance project?
Connect & Create supports the circulation of performing arts and music projects between Sub-Saharan Africa and the European Union.
The programme can support touring projects, as well as programming within major festivals, markets, fairs and professional networking events across Africa and Europe.
Eligible costs may include:
International, national and local travel
Visas and insurance
Accommodation and per diems
Transportation of technical or scenographic equipment required for performances
Who it’s for
Eligible applicants include:
Africa-based performing arts companies, music ensembles and collectives
Production agencies, artist development organisations, record labels, venues and cultural spaces based in Africa or Europe
Festivals, professional markets, trade fairs and networking events held in Africa or Europe
Applicant organisations must be based in one of the 47 eligible Sub-Saharan African countries or one of the 27 European Union member states.
Projects must take place between February and December 2027 in Africa or Europe.
Deadline: 30 September 2026 at 11:59pm Paris time
Funding available: Up to 70% of the total eligible project budget
Co-financing required: At least 30% through cash and/or in-kind contributions
Location: Sub-Saharan Africa and the European Union
This opportunity is particularly relevant to organisations seeking to build sustainable international partnerships and create new opportunities for artists and audiences.
Apply through the Connect & Create application portal.
ACE Music Growth Fund – Arts Council England
Looking for funding to grow your music business or organisation?
The Music Growth Fund supports UK-based music businesses and organisations seeking to strengthen their operations, develop talent and skills, reach new audiences and build long-term sustainability.
The next funding round, offering grants of between £1,000 and £40,000, opens on 4 September 2026.
Funding may be relevant to eligible:
Independent record labels
Music publishers
Music managers
Promoters and festivals
Recording studios
Rehearsal spaces
Music-sector support organisations
Applicants should read both the general guidance and any additional guidance relating to their specific type of organisation.
Who it’s for
The fund is open to eligible UK-based music businesses and organisations that meet the full Music Growth Fund criteria.
Applications open: 4 September 2026
Deadline: 15 October 2026
Funding available: £1,000–£40,000
Location: United Kingdom
Match Funding Requirements
Applicants must provide cash match funding equal to at least 25% of the total project budget.
For example, if your total project budget is £40,000, at least £10,000 must come from other eligible cash sources. You could therefore request up to £30,000 from the Music Growth Fund for that project.
Because applicants must have an approved profile before submitting an application, it is worth preparing your account and project budget well ahead of the deadline.
Read the Music Growth Fund guidance and apply.
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Arts Projects for Individuals & Groups – Creative Australia
Looking for support to develop or share an arts project in Australia or internationally?
Creative Australia’s Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups programme offers funding of between A$10,000 and A$50,000 for activities across all arts practices. Projects may take place nationally, internationally, online, or through a combination of in-person and online activity.
Funding may support:
Professional skills development, including mentoring and residencies
The creation of new work
Collaborations and touring
Recording
Promotion and marketing
Market development
Creative community engagement
Who it’s for
The programme is open to practicing artists and arts professionals applying as individuals or groups. Individual applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents. Organisations cannot apply through this category.
Deadline: 1 September 2026 at 3pm AEST
Funding available: A$10,000–A$50,000
Location: Australia, with national and international activity supported
Supported activity: From 7 December 2026; projects must last no longer than two years from their proposed start date.
Applicants must register in Creative Australia’s Application Management System before applying. For this round, registrations must be received before 10am AEST on 31 August 2026.
Read the official guidelines and apply through Creative Australia.
Before You Apply
A little preparation can make a big difference.
Before submitting your application:
Read the eligibility criteria carefully.
Check the deadline, time zone and required documents on the official page.
Prepare links to your music or previous work.
Create a clear project budget and confirm any match funding or co-financing requirements.
Ask someone to proofread your application.
Apply early whenever possible, it’s one less thing to worry about.
Final Thoughts
Opportunities like these can open unexpected doors, but only if you know where to find them.
Whether you are looking for support to fund your next release, gain practical studio experience, continue your music education or take a project to new audiences, this month’s roundup offers several ways to move your career forward.
We’ll continue sharing a monthly selection of music jobs, grants, scholarships, artist development programs and other opportunities to help you build a sustainable career in music.
If you come across an opportunity you’d like us to feature next month, let us know, we’d love to hear from you.
Good luck with your applications!
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