MOBO and Help Musicians UK are thrilled to be working together to offer grants of up to £2,000 to support exceptional talent with their career ambitions. From vocal coaching, support for touring or video production, the MOBO Help Musicians Fund can be used to support opportunities which will have a significant impact on your creativity and career.

Who can apply?
To be eligible for the MOBO Help Musicians Fund you must be:

• Aged 18 or over
• Based primarily in the UK and eligible to work here
• A resident in the UK for at least 3 consecutive years
• In financial need and without significant backing.

You can be a solo artist, producer, group or songwriter. MOBO would like to encourage applications from genres beyond the commercial heartland such as RnB and Soul, Hip Hop, Grime, Jazz, Gospel, Garage, Reggae and African music.

Group applications

If your group would like to apply:

• 50% must meet the criteria as above
• You must also have been established and playing together regularly for at least 2 years

Am I at the right stage?

MOBO and Help Musicians UK want to invest in artists who are performing or creating great music and show potential to build a long-term professional career.

To apply you must already have been making music and performing. We want to support those who can demonstrate the following:

• Exceptional ability
• High quality musical output
• An entrepreneurial spirit and dedication towards their career
• Regularly performing, writing and releasing music
• Achievement or the potential to achieve a national or international impact 
• An impressive track record

What can I use the funding for?

• Developing skills, for example undertaking vocal coaching sessions or learning software
• Development of your live act, e.g. through use of visuals or live musicians
• Development of your ability to make and record music through training or equipment
• Creation of promotional materials, including website, video production and marketing materials
• Accessing recording studio facilities
• Attending industry networking events or masterclasses or other short courses
• Funding support for touring

Please note equipment or PR should only make up 50% of your overall budget (e.g. should be no more than £1000 pounds of your total budget).

What can’t I use the funding for?

• Help with general living costs or pay for your own time

• Pay for anything that has happened before we approve the funding
• Pay for formal courses of study, training or research (this includes undergraduate study, postgraduate study, year-long courses, costs associated with PhD study)
• Attendance at showcases already supported by the International Showcase Fund or similar funding opportunities in the nations (SXSW CMJ, A3C, Womex, Reeperbahn, Folk Alliance International, MIDEM Canadian Music Week)

How it works

1. Read through the guidelines
2. Make sure you are eligible
3. Complete the online application form by 3 November
4. Ask a referee to fill out the online reference form by 3 November
5. Fill out the out the confidential equal opportunities monitoring form by 3 November
6. Applications are shortlisted
7. A panel of experts selected by MOBO and HMUK will judge the shortlist
8. The selected artists will be contacted and sent further details of funding

What to include in your application

The online application form will ask questions about:

• You, your music and your achievements to date
• Details about your project and what you would spend the money on. You should try to explain as clearly as possible what difference the funding will make.
• How the activity will benefit your creative development and future career 

Within your application please include:

• Significant performances, engagements or commissions
• Most recent releases
• Examples of critical acclaim
• Evidence of your growing fanbase
• Notable collaborations
• Qualifications, prizes or awards

You will also need to submit examples of the best and most recent music that you are making.

Your reference

To support your application you must also have a reference from a successful and well respected musician or music professional not connected with your application. This referee should know about you and your work. 

Help with your application

For tips on writing your application you can visit www.helpmusicians.org.uk/creative-programme/advice-for-funding-applications-

About Us

Help Musicians UK (HMUK) is the leading independent charity providing help, support and opportunities to empower musicians at all stages of their lives.  As well as playing a vital role supporting working musicians who are dealing with an illness, injury or accident, we also provide a range of opportunities to support learning and professional. Through our Creative Programme, we aim to help musicians during the course of their careers by investing in innovation across artistic practice, talent and professional development, removing barriers that exist for many to launch and sustain professional music careers across all genres.

MOBO has been celebrating excellence in music for over 20 years and continues its rich legacy and ongoing growth as the premiere outlet for recognising and honouring the artistic and technical achievements of exceptional British and international talent in the musical fields of Hip Hop, Grime, RnB/Soul, Reggae, Jazz, Gospel, and African music. In 2016 the MOBO Trust was established to advance education in the Performing Arts, particularly amongst children and young people from diverse backgrounds.

Deadlines

Applications for Round One must be received by 3rd November 2017.