19th December 2007

PRS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES YEAR 2 OF ‘BRITISH MUSIC ABROAD’ FOR UK EMERGING ACTS

The PRS Foundation announces the second year of its funding scheme, British Music Abroad, to nurture emerging British music talent. Funded by Arts Council England’s Grants for the arts programme, this scheme offers financial support to emerging UK acts that have been selected for key overseas showcase opportunities.

The funding scheme is aimed at those who are making waves in the UK and who are ready to make a broader international impact. A large part of the costs of showcasing are travel and accommodation costs which, for an emerging act, can be prohibitive. British Music Abroad will provide financial support towards these costs.

Through the scheme, the PRS Foundation and Arts Council England will enable those at this critical stage in their careers to take advantage of the benefits offered by international showcasing.

“This scheme is great news for emerging British artists. By offering support towards travel costs, we aim not only to move individual careers forwards, but play a significant part in promoting the UK’s music on a world stage” said Charlotte Ray, Director of the PRS Foundation.

The UK is the world’s second largest exporter of music. Showcase events play a vital part in maintaining this level of export. Artists such as Kate Walsh, Bat For Lashes and The Pipettes gained their big break from performing at showcase events, all of whom were supported by British Music Abroad.

"British Music Abroad promotes the British music industry at major international festivals and markets and raises the profile of individual artists, both here in the UK and abroad, all by virtue of contributing towards basic expenses - it's brilliantly straightforward!" added Henry Little, Interim Director of Music Strategy at Arts Council England.

Showcasing events to be supported through the British Music Abroad scheme include South by South West, WOMEX and CMJ. British Music Abroad is not a touring scheme and we are looking for artists with definite plans for their time at showcases. Priority will go to applicants new to the scheme.

For further information visit: www.prsfoundation.co.uk/funding/britishmusicabroad.htm

The full list of applicable showcase events is:

How to apply to British Music Abroad:

For further information, application forms and submission dates visit:  www.prsfoundation.co.uk or contact Joshua Meggitt, PRS Foundation on 020 7306 4228 or joshua.meggitt@prsfoundation.co.uk  

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FOR ALL PRESS QUERIES PLEASE CONTACT:

Contact:  Catherine George
Telephone:  020 7306 4777
Email:   press@mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk
 
NOTES TO EDITORS
British Music Abroad is managed by the PRS Foundation and is funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England’s Grants for the arts programme for individuals and organisations.
 

About the PRS Foundation for New Music
The PRS Foundation for New Music is the UK’s largest independent funder purely for new music of any genre.

Widely respected as a refreshingly approachable and adventurous funding body, the Foundation supports an amazing range of new music activity. The PRS Foundation is an artistically driven organisation, which aims to promote and support the creation and performance of all genres of music. Support is directed towards creatively adventurous and pioneering musical activity.

The organisation, which receives its generous support from the membership of the Performing Right Society, has a unique remit to support all genres of music throughout the whole of the UK. Since its launch in March 2000 it has successfully funded over 1500 new music initiatives to date, to the tune of over £8million.

Website: www.prsfoundation.co.uk