Help Musicians Re-Opens 360 Degree Do It Differently Fund

Help Musicians, the independent music charity, is encouraging independently-driven musicians seeking funding across creative output, business development and health & wellbeing to apply to its Do It Differently Fund, the third round of which opened today.

Created in response to the charity’s research into the need for full package of support among DIY artists, the fund provides each awardee up to £3,000 towards creative output, and a further £2,000 towards one-to-one business guidance, led by ThinkMusic, and wellbeing tools from Help Musicians and BAPAM (British Association for Performing Arts Medicine).

Help Musicians is also very pleased to announce its new partnership with the Featured Artist Coalition (FAC), the dynamic organisation providing support, advice and education to empower artist entrepreneurs. The partnership will see all Do It Differently awardees, including from those from the two previous rounds, receive fully subsidised annual PRO membership, featuring benefits such as: free legal advice, free admission to all FAC Artist:Entrepreneur (A:E) events, sample management contracts, exclusive networking opportunities and much more. 

As a charity committed to accessibility, Help Musicians is especially highlighting the opportunity for artists to apply for the Do It Differently Fund via video application. The organisation recognises that form filling can, for many different reasons, be a barrier to entry for some and is spotlighting video applications as an opportunity for artists to get creative and apply in a way that works for them. Examples of previous successful video applications can be viewed on the Help Musicians blog here.

Working in partnership with BAPAM (British Association for Performing Arts Medicine), ThinkMusic and now also the FAC to champion the UK’s exceptional DIY talent, the Do It Differently Fund provides the most comprehensive suite of support yet for independently-driven music creators. Nearly 100 musicians have already benefited from the Fund since it launched in late 2018, demonstrating the need for a holistic approach to funding for independent UK music creators.

Claire Gevaux, Help Musicians UK Director of Programme, said: “The success of the Do It Differently Fund, developed from the understanding of musicians, has proved that independent music creators have a real appetite for a well-rounded approach to funding support that addresses artists’ creative needs, gives them tools to build themselves as a business and practical tips towards maintaining good health. The nearly 100 individual musicians who have been supported by the fund have all embraced the need to work hard to maintain a balance between these three aspects of being a musician in the 21^st century.

We are always looking forward and reviewing our support packages, and we’re thrilled to enhance Do It Differently with the addition of Featured Artist Coalition PRO membership. The FAC’s support for DIY creators is a vital service that is a natural fit for our beneficiaries, especially the entrepreneurial applicants we see through this fund. Similarly, ensuring our funds are accessible is of paramount importance to us and it’s why we continue to encourage video applications, as well as written.”