The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) is expanding its UK Artist Touring (UKAT) fund after funding from the LIVE Trust increased by 140%. The second round will offer artists up to £8,000 and accept a broader range of shows, including tentative bookings.
Applications open on Wednesday 26 August at 10am and close on Friday 11 September.
Expanded eligibility for touring support
The revised terms allow artists to apply for:
- Up to £8,000 or 40% of total eligible tour expenditure, whichever is lower.
- A combination of headline appearances, support slots and festival performances.
- Unconfirmed or tentative bookings, provided the shows are confirmed before funding is awarded.
David Martin, chief executive officer of the FAC, encouraged applications from artists with confirmed shows or provisional offers between now and April 2027. He said the fund covers all genres and that demand is still expected to exceed available funding.
First round supported 26 artists
UKAT launched in March 2026 with the Music Managers Forum (MMF) and the Musicians’ Union (MU) to help artists cover gaps in their touring budgets. Its first awards followed in April 2026, supporting 26 artists across the UK through proceeds from £125,000 collected by the LIVE Trust.
The FAC said that support would enable 211 shows to proceed that might otherwise have been cancelled. Artists who provided accounts of the fund’s impact include Belle Chen, Brown Horse, Chris Brain, deary, Demob Happy, Emily Portman, Jim Ghedi, MEMORIALS, Oslo Twins and V.I.C.
The fund addresses shortfalls between the fixed costs of touring small and medium-sized venues and income from ticket sales or guarantees. Those gaps can lead to fewer bookings, cancellations, reduced employment and compromises on safety.
Support for artists and touring workers
Martin said direct assistance to artists also benefits session musicians, fans, managers, agents, independent promoters and venues. He said the sector must maximise the value of each £1 ticket donation.
Annabella Coldrick, chief executive of the MMF, said the additional investment would extend support to artists and the wider industry. She added that UKAT funding provides remuneration for managers whose touring work can otherwise go unpaid.
Kelly Wood, the MU’s national organiser for live, theatre and music writers, said touring costs can leave even established artists with sold-out shows out of pocket, forcing reductions in band and crew numbers.
Dame Caroline Dinenage DBE MP, chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said the committee had heard directly from artists about financial pressures on touring. It recommended using contributions from large-scale live music events to support artists further down the sector, an approach she said was being put into practice through the LIVE Trust and UKAT.
The FAC also announced a new partnership with the Northern Music Export Office to extend UKAT’s reach.
