Deadline: 30-Jun-2026
Beyond Borders provides funding to support cross-border collaborations between music creators, performers, presenters, organisations, ensembles and bands across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, encouraging the creation, touring and promotion of innovative new music through live performances and digital engagement.
The programme aims to strengthen artistic partnerships, expand audience reach, and ensure that new musical works receive multiple performances across different regions.
About the Program
The programme supports collaborative music projects that bring together partners from across the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
The programme focuses on:
- Innovative and high-quality new music
- Cross-border collaboration
- Co-commissions of new musical works
- Performances of newly commissioned music
- Repeat performances of music written within the past five years
- Touring initiatives
- Audience engagement and participation
- Partnership development
- Legacy building
- Sharing expertise between organisations
- Expanding audience reach
- Collaborative commissioning
- Co-producing initiatives
- Digital engagement activities
The programme encourages meaningful partnerships that strengthen the contemporary music sector.
Program Objectives
The programme seeks to:
- Support the creation of new musical works
- Strengthen collaboration between organisations and music creators
- Encourage repeat performances beyond premieres
- Expand touring opportunities across regions
- Increase public engagement with new music
- Build sustainable partnerships
- Promote artistic exchange
- Raise the profile of collaborative music initiatives
- Share knowledge and expertise across regions
- Increase access to innovative musical experiences
Projects should demonstrate artistic ambition and collaborative value.
Funding Information
Under the programme:
- Applicants may request funding of up to £20,000.
- Funding supports new commissions, recordings, and repeat performances of music written during the past five years.
- Funding is intended to complement other sources of project income rather than cover the full cost of projects.
Applicants are expected to demonstrate additional fundraising efforts.
Eligible Activities
Funding may support:
- New music commissions
- Co-commissions
- Repeat performances
- Touring activities
- Live performances
- Recordings
- Audience engagement initiatives
- Public participation activities
- Workshops
- Digital engagement activities
- Partnership development activities
- Cross-artform collaborations where music remains central
Projects should focus on presenting exceptional new musical works to audiences across multiple regions.
Performance Requirements
Funded projects are expected to include:
- A significant live performance component
- A minimum of three live performances
- Performances taking place across at least three UK or Ireland regions
In addition:
- Recordings and digital activities are eligible.
- Recordings and digital activities cannot represent the majority of the funding request.
Projects should prioritise live audience experiences.
Eligible Applicants
The programme is open to:
- UK-based not-for-profit organisations
- Ireland-based not-for-profit organisations
- Music groups
Applications must:
- Be led by an organisation or music group
- Involve at least three partners from different UK or Ireland regions
- Identify a lead partner responsible for project management and delivery
Collaborative partnerships are central to the programme.
Partnership Requirements
Projects must involve:
- At least three partners from different regions within the UK or Ireland
The programme also welcomes:
- Larger partnerships
- Collaborations involving international organisations
Lead organisations must demonstrate the capacity to manage the proposed activities effectively.
Additional Funding Expectations
Applicants are expected to:
- Secure additional sources of project income
- Demonstrate fundraising efforts
- Show that existing support from partner arts councils is not counted as Beyond Borders project income
- Present realistic and sustainable project budgets
Funding should form part of a broader financial plan.
Expected Outcomes
Supported projects should contribute to:
- Creation of innovative new musical works
- Stronger cross-border partnerships
- Increased touring opportunities
- Repeat performances of contemporary music
- Expanded audience engagement
- Enhanced public participation
- Greater artistic exchange
- Increased visibility for collaborative initiatives
- Sustainable relationships between organisations
- Long-term impact across the music sector
The programme encourages projects that leave a lasting artistic and organisational legacy.
Assessment Criteria
Applications are assessed based on:
- Artistic quality and ambition
- Strength of the proposed collaboration
- Innovation of the project
- Quality of partnership arrangements
- Audience engagement potential
- Commitment to repeat performances
- Feasibility of the delivery plan
- Fundraising and financial planning
- Potential legacy and long-term impact
- Capacity of the lead organisation to deliver the project
Projects should demonstrate both artistic excellence and meaningful collaboration.
Why This Program Matters
Collaborative commissioning and touring enable new music to reach wider audiences while creating stronger connections between artists, organisations, and communities. By supporting partnerships across borders, Beyond Borders helps ensure that exceptional new works continue to evolve through multiple performances rather than ending after a single premiere.
The programme strengthens relationships across the UK and the Republic of Ireland, promotes artistic exchange, and contributes to a vibrant and connected contemporary music ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of Beyond Borders?
- The programme supports cross-border collaborations that create, perform, and promote innovative new music across the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
How much funding is available?
- Eligible projects may receive up to £20,000.
Who can apply?
- UK- and Ireland-based not-for-profit organisations and music groups can apply.
How many partners are required?
- Projects must involve at least three partners from different UK or Ireland regions.
Are recordings and digital activities eligible?
- Yes. However, they cannot represent the majority of the funding request.
What are the live performance requirements?
- Projects must include at least three live performances across a minimum of three UK or Ireland regions.
Can international organisations participate?
- Yes. Larger partnerships involving international organisations are encouraged, provided the project has an eligible lead partner.
Conclusion
Beyond Borders supports ambitious collaborations that bring together music creators and organisations from across the UK and the Republic of Ireland to develop, tour, and share innovative new music. Through funding for commissions, performances, recordings, and audience engagement activities, the programme strengthens artistic partnerships, expands audience access, and ensures that new musical works achieve a meaningful life beyond their premiere.
For more information, visit PRS Foundation.