PRSF: Beyond Borders

Overview

Beyond Borders stimulates and strengthens cross-border collaborations between music creators, performers and presenters. It supports the creation, touring and promotion of innovative and high-quality new music across all genres and encourages engagement with audiences across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland through multiple performances and digital activity.

Beyond Borders, is open to applications from organisations, music groups and composers.  Funding of up to £20,000 is available for projects that include repeat performances of music written in the past five years, new commissions and recordings.

Support is given to up to 8-10 projects per year that represent:

• Innovation and quality within the music, programming and performances, and potential for national/international profile
• Strength and depth of collaboration between cross-border organisations/ensembles/bands and potential for partnership legacy
• Potential audience reach and impact and the strength of plans for public engagement.

Beyond Borders, is open to applications from organisations, music groups and composers.  

Aims

• support imaginative, high quality co-commissions and performances of new musical works by UK and Ireland-based music creators in a framework which guarantees more than one performance in different countries
• support further performances/touring of music written by UK and Ireland-based music creators during the past five years
• support projects which are genuinely collaborative and have been developed jointly by the partners involved (whether as co-commissioners or touring partners)
• encourage partnerships and sharing of expertise between organisations in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Wales and England which are committed to commissioning new music and developing local and regional audiences
• raise the profile and benefits of co-commissioning/co-producing/touring which takes work beyond the premiere to a broader range of organisations and audiences

Eligibility

• The scheme is open to all UK or Ireland-based not-for-profit organisations.
• There must be a minimum of three live performances between the decision date and the end of the following calendar year, reaching audiences in at least three UK/Ireland regions.
• Recordings and digital activity are eligible for support but cannot form the majority of the funding request. All Beyond Borders projects are expected to have a significant element of live activity.
• They expect music to be the focus of the commission, but cross-artform collaborations are encouraged.
• Although Beyond Borders funding is available to support performances in the UK/Ireland, the premiere of the work does not have to be in the UK/Ireland.
• Organisations currently working on previous Beyond Borders projects are welcome to apply, but we particularly welcome submissions from new collaborative partnerships.
• Beyond Borders projects should demonstrate significant additionality to any activity supported by core funding or other project funding from Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Wales, Arts Council of Northern Ireland or Arts Council of Ireland / An Chomhairle Ealaíon.
• They expect Beyond Borders funding to contribute to, rather than support full project costs. Budget projections should include other cash income, in addition to any in-kind-support.
• It is expected that many applicants may already be in receipt of support from Beyond Borders funding partners (Arts Council Ireland, Arts Council Northern Ireland, Arts Council Wales and Creative Scotland). The budget presented should show that these core or project funds do not form part of the Beyond Borders project income. We will encourage additional fundraising.
• Commitment to working in a minimum of 3 regions; commitment to working in a minimum of 3 regions; including delivering live performances, recording and workshops.

Notes

• The application process must be lead by an organisation or music group
• Applications must consist of at least three partners, each from a different UK/Ireland region.
• Larger partnerships, incorporating additional international organisations, are encouraged.
• There must be a lead partner for each application comprising a festival, venue, promoter or performing group with organisational capacity and infrastructure to deliver the proposed project.
• If an individual music creator is interested in developing a Beyond Borders project submission, they can contact elizabeth@prsfoundation.com to discuss support in identifying potential partners or access a list of previous funded organisations here.
• Collaborations can involve co-commissioning new works or co-promoting music written by UK/Ireland-based music creators during the past five years.
• International musicians may be involved in Beyond Borders projects, however the music must be primarily written by UK or Ireland-based music creators.

Funding level & Notes

Up to £20,000 for high quality co-commissions and tours, stimulating collaboration between composers, performance groups and music organisations across the four UK countries and the Republic of Ireland.

Scheme eligibility

• The scheme is open to all UK or Ireland-based not-for-profit organisations.
• There must be a minimum of three live performances between the decision date and the end of the following calendar year, reaching audiences in at least three UK/Ireland regions.
• Recordings and digital activity are eligible for support but cannot form the majority of the funding request. All Beyond Borders projects are expected to have a significant element of live activity.
• They expect music to be the focus of the commission, but cross-artform collaborations are encouraged.
• Although Beyond Borders funding is available to support performances in the UK/Ireland, the premiere of the work does not have to be in the UK/Ireland.
• Organisations currently working on previous Beyond Borders projects are welcome to apply, but we particularly welcome submissions from new collaborative partnerships.
• Beyond Borders projects should demonstrate significant additionality to any activity supported by core funding or other project funding from Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Wales, Arts Council of Northern Ireland or Arts Council of Ireland / An Chomhairle Ealaíon.
• They expect Beyond Borders funding to contribute to, rather than support full project costs. Budget projections should include other cash income, in addition to any in-kind-support.
• It is expected that many applicants may already be in receipt of support from Beyond Borders funding partners (Arts Council Ireland, Arts Council Northern Ireland, Arts Council Wales and Creative Scotland). The budget presented should show that these core or project funds do not form part of the Beyond Borders project income. We will encourage additional fundraising.
• Commitment to working in a minimum of 3 regions; commitment to working in a minimum of 3 regions; including delivering live performances, recording and workshops.

For information on previous awards see the website