A new £20,000 funding pot has opened up for musicians and venues in Oxford, to help support the grassroots music scene.
Oxford City Council has launched a Grassroots Music Fund, with £20,000 allocated during the 2026/2027 financial year. Funding for the grant was secured at Budget Council, and will be split equally into two stands.
- Venues: Two grants of £5000 each will be made available for music venues
- Musicians and promoters: Around 10 grants averaging £1,000 each will be available for musicians and promoters
The funding aims to help venues support musicians and promoters, by providing rehearsal and performance space and reducing costs and other support as appropriate.
The fund also aims to reduce costs for musicians and promoters to enable more musical activity in the city.
Applications for the new funding pot opened on Monday 17 August, and the deadline for applications to be received is 9am on Monday 12 October.
More information on the grant funding and eligibility criteria can be found on grassroots music fund webpage.
Comment
"Oxford has a vibrant music scene and a proud music history. This fund will help local musicians, venues, promoters, and anyone who loves live music. Oxford's live music industry is undergoing significant financial strain, and, without council intervention, will continue to shrink. By backing grassroots music we're ensuring events actually happen, while supporting the livelihoods of those working in this struggling industry."
Councillor James Taylor, Events, Live Music & the Nighttime Economy Champion
