MusicFutures Future Live Fan Experiences Funding Call, closes 29 May ’26

MusicFutures is a UKRI/AHRC-funded initiative working to accelerate inclusive and sustainable innovation in music across the Liverpool City Region. They support creators, artists, entrepreneurs, and companies to explore new ideas, build new capabilities, and test new approaches across the music sector.

Up to £25K funding & support for Liverpool City Region based SMEs to develop innovative live event experiences within music.
In collaboration with XR Network+ and in partnership with Liverpool Experience Campus.

MusicFutures announces the launch of the Future Live Fan Experiences Funding Call, in collaboration with XR Network+ and in partnership with Liverpool Experience Campus.

Empowering SMEs in the Liverpool City Region to create, prototype and test music event experiences using XR, AI and emerging technologies.

They seek bold projects exploring immersive experiences, fan engagement stages, hybrid multi-platform formats, inclusive scalable technologies & more.

Up to £25,000 funding for x2 Liverpool City Region grantees.

Applicants must be SMEs registered or primarily based in the Liverpool City Region and have a project idea focused on music fan experiences.

Closing date: 29th May 2026

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For more information, guidance, eligibility and how to apply, please follow: https://musicfutures.co.uk/opportunities/future-live-fan-experiences-call/

MusicFutures Music Entrepreneur Funding Call, closes 1 Jun ’26

MusicFutures is a UKRI/AHRC-funded initiative working to accelerate inclusive and sustainable innovation in music across the Liverpool City Region. They support creators, artists, entrepreneurs, and companies to explore new ideas, build new capabilities, and test new approaches across the music sector.

Up to £5K funding & support for innovative LCR music entrepreneurs, artists & creators developing new products, services, processes or experiences within the music sector.

MusicFutures is launching the Music Entrepreneur Fund to support and elevate bold, future-facing ideas for new products, services, processes and experiences in the music sector.

This fund is designed to help music innovators, sole traders, freelancers & micro-businesses (<5 employees) in the Liverpool City Region (LCR), especially those historically excluded on the grounds of gender, race and socio-economic status.

Successful applicants can receive:
– Up to £5,000 in direct financial support, and additional business support.

The fund will help you develop, prototype, test, or launch an idea for scalable products, services, processes or experiences.

Closing date: 1st June 2026

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For more information on guidance, eligbility and how to apply, please follow: https://musicfutures.co.uk/opportunities/music-entrepreneur-fund/

Grants for artists – PRS Foundation / PPL Momentum Accelerator Liverpool, in partnership with MusicFutures, closes 11 May ’26

Grants for artists (Up to £5K) and music industry professionals (Up to £1K)

MusicFutures has partnered with PRS Foundation on the PPL Momentum Accelerator Liverpool, a scheme supporting talented self-writing artists, bands, and future industry professionals outside London who face location-based barriers at a key stage in their careers.

PPL Momentum Accelerator is a targeted scheme to support the development of outstanding artists and bands who are writing their own music, and future Industry Professionals, outside London and who face additional barriers in reaching a crucial career tipping point based on their location.

Previous recipients from Liverpool include Pixey, KOJ, Bandit, Tonia and Tokky Horror.

Through the evaluation of our PPL Momentum Music Fund and evidence from thousands of applications PRS Foundation receives each year, PRS Foundation has identified talent pipeline gaps across the UK.

Many music creators show strong musical potential but are unable to capitalise upon this due to financial barriers, gaps in regional infrastructure, knowledge, advice, and access to industry platforms.

PPL Momentum Accelerator’s long-term approach supports the development of these outstanding artists and bands outside London, with partners providing support for a number of future industry professionals such as managers, promoters, record labels, music publishers, booking agents, to bolster regional scenes across the UK.

Launched as a pilot in Liverpool in 2019, PPL Momentum Accelerator runs in Liverpool City Region, Tees Valley, Yorkshire and Wales, with the Liverpool programme delivered in partnership with MusicFutures, LCR Music Board, Culture Liverpool and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

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For more information and how to apply, please visit: https://prsfoundation.com/funding-support/funding-music-creators/next-steps/ppl-momentum-music-fund/ppl-momentum-accelerator-guidance/

Deliver a workshop – Movema at Africa Oyé, closes 8 May ’26

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Movema will be curating the Africa Oyé Family Zone programme in partnership with Afro Dance Academy.

Deliver a workshop!

They are looking for local artists, organisations and community groups to get involved in creating an exciting programme, by providing a workshop and/or demo. They will be prioritising applications that raise the profile and representation of art-forms and disciplines that are rooted in the African diaspora as well as engaging with communities of the African diaspora.

Expression of interest: http://bit.ly/4czaeBF

Closing date: 8 May

 

 

Volunteers – Movema at Africa Oyé, closes 28 May ’26

Movema will be curating the Africa Oyé Family Zone programme in partnership with Afro Dance Academy.

Volunteer with them!

They are looking for local volunteers to help with their workshop programme over the weekend.
You will get a free ticket to the event, expenses contribution, and a lot of fun!

Expression of interest: https://bit.ly/4cIwv0d

Closing date: 28 May

Applicants – Youth Empowerment Scheme funding, closes 1 May ’26

The fund, delivered by the Community Foundation for Merseyside (CFM) in partnership with the Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside (PCC) and the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership (MVRP), is targeted at community projects that offer diversionary activities – particularly those that include arts, culture, digital skills such as coding, and sports to support young people aged under 25 years who may be more vulnerable to experiencing violence and at risk of anti-social behaviour.

This could be due to a lack of self-esteem, social isolation or experiencing challenges at home. They may live in a community where drugs and alcohol are prevalent, or the community may lack infrastructure and accessible services. All these factors are recognised as increasing vulnerability to experiencing violence and/or exploitation.

The grants panel are keen for applicants to include capacity building costs for their organisation and would encourage consortium/partnership applications that will allow groups to work together (although this is not a requirement). The primary focus of the fund is community provision and out-of-school-hours engagement.

For full details, visit here

An online application form can be completed here. You can attach supporting documents to your online application, or email them at applications@cflm.org.uk.

Documents which need to be included with your application:

    1. A copy of your governing document.
    2. A copy of your latest annual accounts or income/expenditure document.
    3. A copy of a recent bank statement for your group. If you do not have a bank account in place, you must be able to nominate another organisation to hold the funds (CVS, another local charity, church etc.).
    4. A list of your Trustees/Directors/Management Committee members. A minimum of three un-related must be in place.
    5. A copy of your current Safeguarding Policy. All applicants must ensure that they hold relevant policies and procedures in place to undertake activities, such as Criminal Records Bureau checks and/or a health and safety policy, depending on proposed activity. If unsure, they recommend taking advice from your local CVS.

If you have applied within the last 12 months and provided this information, they do not need you to send it again, although they may require a more recent bank statement.

Closing date: 1 May

Creatives – Theatre Radical Itch Scratch at Unity Theatre, closes 27 Apr ’26

Artists are invited to submit 5–15 minute performances (poetry, music, or theatre) for Breaking the Class Ceiling at Unity Theatre on 30 May, a live showcase of working-class artistry following a heritage event.

Event: Breaking the Class Ceiling at Unity Theatre
When: Sat 30th May
Deadline: 27th April

Seeking 5-15 min performances (poems, songs, theatre).

To be shared following a Heritage project event:

Breaking the Class Ceiling – A Live Exploration of Working-Class Artistry.

To apply- email: elirandle@unitytheatre.co.uk by 27th April.

Public Speaking Bootcamp by Sam Avery, held 30 Apr ’26

Boost your confidence and enjoy future presentations with this Public Speaking Bootcamp!

Head along to the next Public Speaking Bootcamp at Clockwise, Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool on Thursday 30th April, 10am-midday.

Anyone can sign up! Places are limited and are just £50 per person. Click here to sign up.

Delivered by Sam Avery (an award-winning comedian with 20 years experience of performance & coaching) this workshop offers smart and memorable tips for improving your public speaking skills.

Make your presentations more engaging, increase your confidence and learn how to enjoy future public engagements!

Fun and friendly. All abilities and experience welcome.

For more info contact sam@thecomedytrust.com

DJ workshop – Queensway Collective CIC, closes 17 Apr ’26 

Queensway Collective CIC is a Merseyside-based collective that platform underrepresented community groups within the electronic music industry.

They facilitate DJ courses for beginners and also run Studio Picnic – an affordable DJ and community-use studio space in L3. On top of that, we host parties and events across Merseyside! The Studio Picnic Summer School will take place over 12 weeks in Liverpool. The course is free of charge, and there will be a graduation-style showcase event taking place after the completion of the programme.

Apply here

Closing date: Friday April 17th, 7pm