GRANT ROUND 12 OPENS!
- Continuo Foundation
- Jul 7
- 2 min read
£100,000 available to support Early Music projects across the UK
Grants awards to ensembles will range from £2,000 to £6,000
Supporting projects taking place 1 December 2026 to 31 May 2027
Dedicated eligibility category for emerging ensembles
Round 12 takes Continuo Foundation support to the sector to £1.275 million
Continuo Foundation has opened applications for Round 12 of the Continuo Foundation Awards, making a further £100,000 available to support Early Music projects by period instrument ensembles across the UK. We offer our heartfelt thanks to all of the donors who have made this possible through their generosity.
The new round continues Continuo’s mission to help ensembles create ambitious, high-quality work at a time when project funding remains urgently needed across the sector. Grants will support concerts, tours, recordings, workshops, audience development initiatives and other imaginative projects that bring Early Music to communities throughout the UK.
Since launching in 2020, Continuo Foundation has become one of the most significant dedicated funders of Early Music in the UK, supporting more than 285 projects in the sector. This twelfth round will see the Foundation’s total support grow to £1.275 million, helping ensembles to employ musicians, reach new audiences, make recordings and bring live historically informed performance to a wide range of venues and locations.
Round 12 grants will be awarded to projects taking place between 1 December 2026 and 31 May 2027. Applications are invited from UK-based professional period-instrument ensembles with three or more instrumentalists. As in previous rounds, there will be a dedicated eligibility category for emerging ensembles, supporting groups at an earlier stage of their development and helping to nurture the next generation of Early Music performers.
Applications will be assessed through Continuo Foundation’s established two-stage evaluation process that includes consideration of artistic quality, audience reach and long-term impact. Final decisions are made by the Foundation’s Trustees.
Tina Vadaneaux, Founder and CEO of Continuo Foundation, comments:
'Every round of funding puts vital resources directly into the hands of ensembles, helping them to plan with confidence, employ outstanding musicians and bring inspiring performances to audiences who might not otherwise have access to this music. We warmly encourage eligible ensembles, both established and emerging, to apply.'
Full details, including eligibility and selection criteria, application forms and budget templates, are available on the Continuo Foundation website: continuofoundation.co.uk
About Continuo
Established in 2020, Continuo Foundation supports established and emerging talent in the UK Early Music sector through project grants awarded on a selective basis. Its funding enables professional period-instrument ensembles to develop concerts, tours, recordings, education projects and creative initiatives that connect audiences with centuries of music heritage.
Since its launch, Continuo Foundation has awarded grants enabling 285 Early Music projects across the country, benefiting nearly 1,500 musicians and reaching audiences of 435,000 through live and digital projects.
Alongside its project funding, Continuo runs ContinuoConnect.com, a UK-wide professional platform for Early Music, offering comprehensive concert listings, artist profiles, interviews, news, video and recording features and curated playlists.
Continuo Foundation is led by its Founder and CEO, Tina Vadaneaux, with support from Trustees, Advisory Panel members and Patrons who give their time pro bono. The Foundation raises funds from individuals, trusts and foundations, and corporate donors.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR GENEROUS SUPPORTERS WHO HAVE
MADE THIS NEW ROUND OF GRANTS POSSIBLE.
