Continuo Foundation announces eighth funding round

Arts funding charity Continuo Foundation has revealed its eighth round of grants, set to support hundreds of musicians in bringing music projects to communities often under-served with live performance. Continuo’s lates injection of funding brings the total provided by the charity since its first grant round in 2021 to £850,000.

The latest grant round will support projects from 17 established ensembles and 10 emerging groups (formed since 2020) in giving performances in 48 different locations, from the Scilly Isles to Belfast to Presteigne. Continuo-supported projects including concerts, audio recordings and film projects will take place in venues ranging from purpose-built concert halls to art galleries, churches, community colleges and cafés.

One emerging ensemble supported in Continuo’s latest funding round is Sounds Historical. The group’s recorder player and baroque flautist Heidi Fardell said: ‘We aim to reach as many communities as possible, to connect with people who are keen to hear live music but often worry about the cost of living. Having the security of a Continuo Foundation grant makes the difference between certain concerts happening or not.’

The injection of funding will allow Sounds Historical to expand their presence in Yorkshire and the Northeast of England, taking its 600 Years! Hildegard to Haydn programme to areas often deprived of professional classical performance including Little Heyford, Presteigne, Worcester, Stoke Lyne, Sibford, Rugby and Coventry.

Another recipient of Continuo funding this season, Manchester-based trio Baroque in the North, will use their grant to present community project Baroque & Beyond. Violinist, recorder and musette player Amanda Babington explained‘It takes chamber concerts ‘beyond’ the usual locations, to rural communities in the North West without arts events. The aim is to improve accessibility to live music for rural residents of all ages, and to enhance community spirit by presenting live music events in a venue central to village life, whether it’s a chapel, school or pub. Continuo Foundation grants allows small organisations like ours to develop projects like this, and to keep ticket prices affordable.’

Details of the 27 award recipients and their projects can be found on the Continuo Foundation website. Performances associated with these projects, can be found on the foundation’s Continuo Connect platform.