Subsidies for engaging professional artists: Overview

Booking professional musicians can be financially challenging for many leisure-time groups. Making Music offers members specially reduced or subsidised rates to make booking and engaging artists more affordable.

Philip and Dorothy Green Young Artists subsidies

The Philip and Dorothy Green Young Artists (PDGYA) scheme enables young musicians at the start of their careers to gain vital performance experience across the UK, while Making Music members can engage some of the very best young musical talent at a reduced cost. 

This year the PDGYA scheme will enlist winners from similar schemes and has partnered with Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL) and Brighton Early Music Festival (BREMF), who champion young musicians through competitions and mentorship. This partnership means more diverse performance and collaborative opportunities for artists as well as Making Music members.  

Please note that if you are eligible for subsidies, you can apply for the PDGYA and Promoters subsidy within the same calendar year. The PDGYA subsidy can be used in conjunction with the Promoters subsidy for the same event, however, if you are claiming both subsidies for the same event then it is not possible for you to use the Promoters subsidy to claim for the artists engagement fee as this would already be covered by the PDGYA subsidy.

*Due to high demand for the Philip and Dorothy Green Young Artist subsidy we are currently having to operate a waiting list. We are not able to guarantee funds will be available but will be allocating on a first come first served basis as and when they become available. To be added on to the waitlist please complete and submit the request form*

How do I book a Young Artist?

PDGYA 2024 eligible artists

Royal Over-Seas League soloists and ensembles:

Brighton Early Music Festival ensembles:

Find out more information about all artists below.

PDG Young Artists

PDGYA subsidy rates

Making Music groups can book and engage with professional artists at a subsidised rate. You can claim one subsidy per calendar year

Number of artists Fee to artist Subsidy
One £275  £175 
Two (e.g. flute & piano) £550  £250 
Three (e.g. piano trio) £750  £350 
Four (e.g. string quartet) £1000  £450 
Five/six etc. +£250 per artist £450

   Please note: these fees  are a minimum, groups are welcome to pay the artist(s) more, but never less.

  1. Request the subsidy from Making Music by filling in the online PDGYA subsidy request form below and wait for us to confirm that it's available.
  2. Contact the artist to make a booking using the contact details above.
  3. As soon as the artist has confirmed the booking, contact us to let us know at info@makingmusic.org.uk.
  4. We will then send you guidance on how to include Making Music logos and acknowledgements in all publicity materials and programmes. This is a condition for claiming the subsidy.
  5. Agree a contract with the artist, and send a copy of the signed contract plus full details of the concert to Making Music.
  6. You must ensure that all publicity and programmes for your concert, including posters and flyers, use our logos and acknowledgements as specified in the guidance we provide.
  7. After the performance, you pay the artist the full fee and expenses (and those of the accompanist if there is one).
  8. You then send us copies of your publicity materials in order to complete your claim for a subsidy. N.B. This must be done within three months of the concert taking place as we cannot guarantee your subsidy after this point. Payment will be made by bank transfer as soon as the claim form has been approved by our subsidy administrator.

All arrangements to confirm and carry out the booking must be done directly with the artist, including sending the contract/letter of engagement and discussing arrangements for travel, accommodation and the proposed programme.

Request the combination of subsidies that suits you below.

PDGYA subsidy request form

 

Promoters Subsidy

To help some of Making Music's smaller member promoter groups (who have an annual income of under £14,500) with the cost of putting on a performance, these groups can apply for the Promoters Subsidy.

The subsidy can be used for costs relating to one of the following: booking venues, engaging professional artists, covering artists travel expenses, hiring instruments or producing promotional material.

You can claim one subsidy per calendar year

The subsidy can be used for one performance date, or across multiple performances dates if you are promoting a season or festival

Making Music will pay a subsidy of 50% towards your total expenses, with a maximum of £100 available

Please note that if you are eligible for subsidies you can apply for the Promoters subsidy and the PDGYA subsidy within the same calendar year. The Promoters subsidy can be used in conjunction with the PDGYA subsidy for the same event, however, if you are claiming both subsidies for the same event then it is not possible for you to use the Promoters subsidy to claim for the artists engagement fee as this would be covered by the PDGYA subsidy.


 

Find out more and apply now

 

We hope you find this Making Music resource useful. If you have any comments or suggestions about the guidance please contact us. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the content of this guidance is accurate and up to date, Making Music do not warrant, nor accept any liability or responsibility for the completeness or accuracy of the content, or for any loss which may arise from reliance on the information contained in it