Continuo Foundation launches seventh round of grants
Florence Lockheart
Tuesday, January 9, 2024
The foundation, which recently celebrated three years since its founding, has so far provided support totalling £750,000 to 970 musicians
Period music charity Continuo Foundation has today opened applications for its seventh round of grants. The organisation, which celebrated three years since its founding in September 2023, has to date provided UK period-instrument ensembles with funding support totalling £750,000.
In this latest round, £100,000 in grants will be available for artistic projects taking place across the UK between April and October 2024. Grants will range from £2,000 to £8,000, and project proposals will be judged against the foundation’s criteria: ‘artistic quality’, ‘reaching new audiences’, and ‘building for the future’. Applicants will have a month to submit their proposals, which must be received by 9 February.
Applications will undergo a two-stage evaluation process with Continuo’s advisory panel, which includes conductor David Hill MBE; music scholar Dr Berta Joncus; Lindsay Kemp, founder and artistic director of the Baroque at the Edge Festival in London; violinist Catherine Mackintosh and conductor and keyboard player Joseph McHardy. Applications will also be judged by the charity’s trustees, who bring expertise from across the arts and beyond. Award decisions are expected by 21 March.
The foundation, which aims to help musicians to build financially sustainable careers, has so far awarded grants to 85 period-instrument ensembles, supporting 145 projects and a total of 970 freelance musicians to date. Grantees receive funding as well as access to the organisation’s digital platform Continuo Connect which offers UK-based period-instrument ensembles and solo artists a platform to publicise their music and events.
