28.08.2025: Following representations by UK Music and others, Arts Council England (ACE) announced that it would be re-opening the Grassroots Music Fund following a pause in the programme caused by technical issues.   

When the suspension of the Grassroots Music funding was announced in early August, UK Music launched a survey to understand the impact on those who had hoped to apply for grants in this funding cycle. Respondents included well-known grassroots music venues, labels, publishers and artists across all genres.  

According to the survey, 90% of respondents felt they would be impacted in some way, with 46% fearing that the initial timeframe proposed by ACE would render their projects unviable. 

UK Music has been in close contact with ACE throughout and welcomes the move to reopen both the Grassroots Music programme and the Touring Repayable Grants programme using an alternative application method. 

Arts Council England posted an update on its website on September 5 which you can read in full here.