ROSAMUND STRODE

The Holst Foundation is very sad to report the death of Rosamund Strode at the age of 82. She was our dedicated Chairman for many years. An appreciation will follow.

THE HOLST FOUNDATION

The Holst Foundation is a grant-giving charity whose funds are directed primarily towards the performance of music by living composers. The majority of grants are awarded to performing groups; individuals can usually only be supported if application is made on their behalf by performers or promoters. The size of grant ranges from £100 - £2500, although the usual ceiling is £1000.

The Foundation is funded by royalties from the estate of Gustav Holst, which have largely ceased since the copyright expired at the end of 2004. The amount annually available for general grants was at that time in the region of £100,000, but since 2006 it has substantially reduced and both the number and the size of grants are as a consequence increasingly restricted. In the financial year 2010/2011 it is likely that no more than £20,000 will be available.  It may be helpful to know that currently there are usually more than 150 applications each year, and that priority is being given to existing clients.

• The Foundation continues to be the major funder of the administration of the recording label NMC, and for this reason applications for help with recording projects are only rarely accepted.
• The Foundation does not normally support the commissioning of new works, although help is sometimes available for the copying and rehearsal costs of works receiving first performances.
• Because of historical connections, the Foundation funds new music at the Aldeburgh Festival each year. It cannot offer substantial funds to other festivals on a regular basis, nor does it usually fund orchestras or other large organisations.
• Grants are not available to individuals for educational purposes, for research or for travel, for the purchase of instruments or equipment, or for publications. Capital projects cannot be funded. The Foundation does not consider applications for support of performances of music by Gustav Holst.
• Applicants should note that where a grant is offered as a 'guarantee against loss', the grant will expire unless it is claimed within a year of the event taking place. If application is being made to other organisations the Foundation should be informed of this, and of the amounts requested.
• The Music Committee's deliberations are confidential, and the reasons for their decisions cannot be disclosed. The Committee meets to consider applications four times a year, usually in March, June, September and December. Since funding cannot be given retrospectively, they need to be submitted well in advance of the event. There is no application form. Six copies of any application, which should be as concise as possible but contain full financial details of the project, should be sent to :

The Grants Administrator

43 Alderbrook Road

London SW12 8AD 

Tel (messages only) : 020 8673 4215
Email address : holst@dpmail.co.uk
Please do not email grant applications.

Last updated October 2009.