Government confirms touring support for UK artists

The government’s Music Export Growth Scheme will support 58 UK artists to tour the world, it has been announced.

A total of £1.6m has been set aside to deliver marketing and promotion campaigns for artists to tour abroad with the aim of establishing new fans, overseas touring opportunities and revenue.

Recipients include companies representing artists from across the UK including Manchester indie-rock band Blossoms, Hertfordshire electronic music act Maribou State, Newcastle singer-songwriter Andrew Cushin, and Bangor indie-rock band :Panic :Over.

Since the scheme launched in 2014, some £7.9m has been awarded in grants supporting more than 4,000 musical acts from across the UK.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “The Music Export Growth Scheme has helped so many of our talented homegrown artists launch their careers internationally.

“As part of our Plan for Change, we are supporting our creative industries to reach their full potential including through this latest round of funding, which will help the next generation of artists to tour abroad, market themselves to new audiences and showcase the best of British culture and creativity to the world.”