The Continuo Foundation announces Grant Round 5

The Continuo Foundation: Map of 2022 Grantee Activity

The Continuo Foundation has announced its fifth round of project grants, with £100,000 of support for creative projects to be carried out by period-instrument ensembles in the UK between April and September 2023. These funds, raised from the foundation's donors, will be allocated based on a two-stage evaluation process guided by the Foundation’s Advisory Panel of sector experts.

The grants are intended to enable ensembles to plan and carry out a range of projects that bring inspiring live music to communities across the UK, particularly in under-served areas. Grants awarded so far have supported 240 events taking place in 105 locations, reaching 80,000 in-person and online audience members, many of whom are new to classical music. Read my 2022 interview with the foundation's CEO and founder, Tina Vadaneaux.

The foundation's aim initial aim when founded in 2020 was to address the debilitating effects of pandemic-related cancellations on freelance period-instrument musicians. The focus in 2022 was on recovery, rebuilding the careers of musicians and bringing live music to as many UK regions as possible. Looking ahead, the foundation plans to continue to provide a platform for fostering long-term growth in performance activity and audiences, widening access and increasing financial sustainability.

This round will again have a separate category for recently formed ensembles, primarily young artists. The foundation expects to award 20 grants of between £2,000 and £8,000, of which up to four will go to recently-formed ensembles. Professional UK-based ensembles of at least three period instrumentalists are eligible to apply for grants. The application submission period runs from 10 January to 6 February 2023. Grant award decisions are expected by 23 March 2023. Full details on how to apply are available on the foundation's website.