Cockaigne Fund

Cockaigne Fund is sponsored by Foundation Scotland. Supports innovative musical research, development, and performance projects across Scotland, with a focus on classical and traditional music.

Cockaigne Fund | Foundation Scotland The Fund is having a summer break. It will close on 1st July and reopen on 1st September 2026. The Land of Cockaigne is a mythical paradise of cakes, ale, and splendid entertainment.

Although the Cockaigne Fund can’t provide the cakes and ale, musical entertainment is on the menu. Since 2022, the Fund has supported innovative musical research, development, and performance to delight, inform, and move participants and audiences alike. The Cockaigne Fund is here to help projects get over the line into viability – it is not a Kickstarter.

In 2024 and 2025, the average grant size was around £1,500. Due to the high demand for this funding, we expect most grants in 2026 to be a similar size, so please bear this in mind when applying. The decision-making panel includes people with experience related to classical, traditional, and community music.

They are searching for creative, challenging, and original projects that explore cultures and traditions, past and present. They have a particular interest in historically-informed projects, related to classical and traditional music of all periods, that tour across Scotland. All projects need to include a public sharing or performance element.

The Fund may also consider community projects that push boundaries, strive for excellence, and enable people to access new musical experiences. Regarding funding for studies, the Fund will only consider applications related to specialist one-off courses or masterclasses, not full academic programmes. The maximum for such bursaries is £500.

The project must be based in Scotland or have a clear Scottish connection. For the budget section of the application form, applicants must list all project costs clearly and accurately. Please provide as much detail as possible.

You must have other funding for your project before applying to the Cockaigne Fund. The decision-making panel prioritise projects that are well developed and close to reaching their fundraising target. There is a limit of one application per calendar year, and a lifetime maximum of three grants per individual/organisation.

The Cockaigne Fund welcomes applications from individuals and organisations. Organisations must meet Foundation Scotland’s common eligibility criteria . Please note that smaller organisations are prioritised, and make sure to check the criteria before applying.

Individuals must be self-employed and registered with HMRC, or in full-time education. All applicants are required to provide a recent bank statement. Ongoing projects/programmes that require year-on-year or consistent funding.

Projects primarily focused on therapy or wellbeing. Buying instruments (hiring instruments can be considered) Projects focused on recording music. While not strictly excluded, projects focused on working with schools or school-aged young people are rarely supported.

Please see Foundation Scotland’s what we can’t fund page. If you are applying as an individual, please use this application form . If you are applying on behalf of an organisation, please use this application form .

As part of the application form, you will be asked to provide an itemised budget. Please ensure this is as detailed as possible, as the Fund may be able to support specific elements of the project even if the whole amount cannot be granted. If your project focuses on musical research, please explain how you plan to share your findings with the wider community.

For performance-based projects, be sure to include details of your marketing strategy. We aim to share decisions within six weeks. However, there may be delays during busy periods.

For application process and technical enquiries grants@foundationscotland. org. uk For criteria and fund priority enquiries Livi Seligmann, Grants Officer olivia@foundationscotland.

org. uk Previously funded projects Why not take a look at some of the projects and activities this fund has awarded previously?