In just a couple of weeks’ time we will be launching our first funding scheme of the year – Community Music – to fund grass roots music making and performing groups. Kate Danielson (BBC PAF Trustee) is part of our Grant Giving Committee, which will be giving the green light to successful applications once the scheme closes in June.



We asked her to tell us more about what she’s hoping to find:

Tell us about the Community Music scheme in the time it takes us to find the BBC Performing Arts Fund website



It’s a funding scheme for groups of eight or more music making individuals to apply for money to run a project. We want to help make things happen that they possibly wouldn’t otherwise get off the ground – did I do it?



Yes! On the website it says that the Community Music scheme wants to support projects that have a benefit to the wider community. What do you mean by that?



Projects that will not only include and inspire its group members but also include and inspire others in some way too. For example, a group who meet in someone’s garage to jam once a week might have a great time together; but we want them to step out of their comfort zone, throw open the garage doors and perform to the whole street!



We encourage applicants to look at partnerships, training, performing and encouraging greater participation from its members and audiences.

Why do you want to fund Community Groups? Wouldn’t it be more fun to fund the next big solo talent?



Big solo talent has to start somewhere and amateur groups are the breeding ground for all types of music. Group participation in music is a really fun way of bringing people together to have a go no matter what experience or skill they have. We want to challenge those groups to turn their ambition buttons up to 11 and push beyond their comfort zone!

We will be funding talented individuals through our Music Fellowships scheme later on in the year.



How much can groups apply for through the Community Music scheme?



There are two options, the first is to apply for up to £5,000 for a development project and the second is to apply for up to £10,000 for a development project which includes the commission and performance of a new piece of music.



That’s a lot of money.



Yes, but we don’t expect people to apply only for £5,000 or 10,000 – each application will involve a project with its own thought through budget. Applicants could apply for just £500 if that’s what they need to do their project.



What project can you think of that might only need £500?



Sometimes all a group needs is a bit of specialist training to get them started on something new. Our funding could pay for a vocal coach to come and work with a choir to try out a new technique. It might not pay for Gareth Malone but there are many other experienced coaches out there they could afford. Or perhaps a group wants to rent a recording studio for an afternoon to capture something which sounds a bit more professional to load onto YouTube.



When you say ‘music’ what do you mean?



Anything that involves making a tune! That could be bell ringing or a recorder group or a group of Irish fiddlers! Music means so many things to so many people – it’s up to the group to make their case in their application to us. We will only fund music making and performing groups though, not music appreciation societies or fan clubs, that’s not what we’re about.



What if a group have never performed before, would they be able to apply? What if they are really terrible!?



It doesn’t matter what level you are at now – what we want to see is that you have the ambition to do something different and you know how you want to do it. As long as the group has been in existence for at least 2 years, all that matters is that you and your group are planning to improve yourselves in some way, and go on to the next level.



Tell us how the application process works.



Applications for the scheme will open at 10am on 21st May 2012, and close either at 5pm on

29th June 2012 or when we have received the first 500 eligible applications whichever is the soonest. This is because the BBC Performing Arts Fund is a small team and we have a limited amount of funding to offer, so we can’t throw open the doors for too long.



Describe your dream application; what do you want to see?



What I’m really looking forward to is seeing a variety of clever, developmental applications for projects that will take place across the country and result in larger music making groups performing more and creating lots of new music together. 

We have run schemes like this before and you can’t imagine the range of creative and wonderful projects that people out there come up with, it’s amazing. I do however want to encourage applicants to give us as much information as possible though, so that when our assessors read their application they really understand the project and can get a real flavour of it from what’s described in the form.

On a personal level and as I come from a jazz background, I would like to see more groups try out jazz improvisation because I think it is really fun, and very challenging. I suppose I would love to see a community big band apply to bring in a professional jazz musician to work with them and create a new piece of music especially for them, their instruments, and their standard. They would perform their debut to the public, perhaps joining forces with another jazz band for the occasion with the hope that this could lead to more joint projects in future.



Remind us, when can applicants apply?

From Monday 21st May! Put it in your diary and remember to apply without delay, as we’ll close applications either at 5pm on 29th June 2012 or when we have received the first 500 eligible applications, whichever is the soonest.





Thanks Kate!