Music grants in Europe: export offices, artist funds and the language catch
European music money mostly comes from export offices and artist funds rather than one big arts council, and nearly all of it asks where you live before it asks what you play.
Updated October 2026
There is no single European music grant, and the shape of the money is different from the UK or North America. Most of it comes from three kinds of body: national music export offices, funds run out of collecting societies for the performers and composers they pay, and city music boards. Almost all of it is tied to where you live, and some of it is tied to the language you apply in. I read every funder below on its own site, in the original language where there was no English version.
Germany
Initiative Musik backs solo artists and bands establishing themselves in the German and international music markets, covering composition, recording, videos and content, promotion and touring, decided by a jury of artists and industry experts. The catch is printed in capitals: "German is the mandatory language for applications."
Musikfonds funds live music projects in Germany by applicants based in Germany. It will not fund "purely audio or video productions", projects outside Germany, or "Applications from musicians or applicants not based in Germany", and it expects some co-financing. A project already funded by Initiative Musik, or by another body the federal culture commissioner permanently funds, can't also get Musikfonds money.
Musicboard Berlin is a city fund for Berlin's pop scene: help with going on tour as the opening act for a more established artist, scholarships with mentoring, and residencies.
Austria and Switzerland
The Österreichischer Musikfonds (Austrian Music Fund) funds recorded productions released physically or digitally, covering part of the production budget, and runs tour support and export calls; applicants need their main residence in Austria. SKE, funded from the private-copying levy that austro mechana collects, is only for composers who receive author royalties through austro mechana.
Pro Helvetia, the Swiss Arts Council, funds international tours by nationally established Swiss acts all year round (travel, transport, booking and acquisition costs, not accommodation), plus creation and production grants for new work. FONDATION SUISA takes project applications on an ongoing basis, assessed by its Artistic Committee.
The Nordics
Music Norway, the official export office, funds travel and international marketing for professional artists who can show concrete demand from abroad. FFUK, Norway's performers' fund, supports professional performers living and working in Norway with travel, concert and album recording support, and requires applications in Norwegian.
Konstnärsnämnden, the Swedish Arts Grants Committee, gives working grants to musicians, composers, music producers and conductors resident in Sweden, weighing financial need alongside the quality of the work, and project grants for creating new music. Koda Kultur in Denmark and STIM in Sweden fund the songwriters and composers they represent.
Music Finland funds export projects for Finnish artists and music creators who can show international demand, covering part of the costs. The Finnish Cultural Foundation offers mobility grants for international work, and Iceland Music manages the state Music Fund, with grants for composing, recording, releasing and promoting music and travel grants for playing abroad. Across the region, Nordic Culture Point pays travel for professional artists working within the Nordic and Baltic countries.
France and Ireland
Adami, the French collecting society for performers, supports lead performers who are Adami associates and produce their own recordings through their own company. In Ireland, the Arts Council offers bursaries, awards and commissions for music and traditional arts, and Music Network manages the Music Capital Scheme, which funds instruments for professional musicians and groups.
European funders in the directory
Each listing carries the amount, the eligibility wording and the current window, quoted from the funder’s own page in its original language.
The three catches
Residency, not passport. Most of these funders want you living, or based, in their country. Language. Initiative Musik requires German and FFUK requires Norwegian, and the funder will not translate for you. Part, not all. Export funds and production funds usually cover a share of the costs, so budget your part before you write a word.
Every European funder above is in the directory with who it funds, what for and how to reach it, plus a link to its own funding page for current programmes and deadlines. Browse them at /funders, or open the whole directory with a $19-a-year membership.
Frequently asked
Can I apply for German music funding if I live outside Germany?
Generally no. Musikfonds lists "Applications from musicians or applicants not based in Germany" among the things it will not fund, and projects have to take place in Germany. Musicboard Berlin funds musicians living and working in Berlin, and Initiative Musik requires applications in German.
Do European music funds accept applications in English?
Some do and some explicitly do not. Initiative Musik requires German, although its staff advise in English or Spanish. Norway’s performers’ fund FFUK rejects applications written in English, Danish or Swedish. Musicboard Berlin accepts German or English.
What do European music export offices fund?
Mostly travel, touring and marketing abroad for artists who can already show international demand. Music Norway, Music Finland and Iceland Music all fund this, usually covering part of the costs rather than all of them.