Trust and Foundation Giving
Grants from trusts and foundations are central to the RNCM’s success as a globally leading music conservatoire and vibrant public arts venue.
They enable us to welcome musicians from all backgrounds, help us to continually improve our facilities for student and public benefit, and widen access to music for Under 18s.
We take pride in the strong connections we forge with Trusts and Foundations, offering many opportunities to show the impact support makes through regular updates, reports, invitations and a dedicated Impact and Evaluation Manager.
Work with Us
We welcome opportunities to explore new partnerships with trusts and foundations of all sizes seeking to make a transformative difference to music education across four key pillars:
RNCM Student Financial Support
- Scholarships
- Bursaries
- Access to Learning Fund (hardship and opportunity)
- RNCM Health & Wellbeing hub
RNCM Engage
- Advanced Training Provision – Junior RNCM (Classical), RNCM Young Artists (Popular Music)
- First Access – RNCM Young Explorers, Children’s Opera, Community Opera
- Work with Local Schools – Engage Brass
- Specialist free music education – RNCM Young Projects
- Targeted intensive support – RNCM Pathfinder, Transitions
- Wider reach – RNCM Engage Cumbria
RNCM Renew
- Theatre sound and facilities
- Instrument and piano purchase and care
RNCM Futures
- Visiting Artists and masterclasses
- Professional Experience Scheme
- Artist of the Year
- Opera Productions
- RNCM Festivals
- RNCM ENO Incubator
- Creative Innovators
- Artist Agency
- Creative Engagement (student training)
Thank you to the Wolfson Foundation
In summer 2026, we were delighted to receive a £250,000 grant from the Wolfson Foundation to support the refurbishment of our theatre, a much-loved performance space at the heart of the RNCM since 1973.
This significant investment is funding essential upgrades to the venue’s electrical infrastructure, safety lighting, and sound systems, helping to ensure it continues to meet the needs of students, artists, audiences, and communities for years to come.
For more than 50 years, the RNCM Theatre has welcomed musicians, composers, and creative leaders, including Adele, Amy Winehouse, and Sir John Tomlinson. It also provides a platform for learning, creativity, and participation across all ages, from Junior RNCM and Young Artists students to local communities involved in projects such as the Children’s Opera and Community Opera.
As a key venue within the RNCM’s public programme, the theatre welcomes thousands of audience members each year and supports ambitious performances by artists from around the world. The refurbishment will enhance opportunities for performance, teaching, learning, research, and community engagement, ensuring the theatre remains a vibrant and accessible space for future generations.
Our huge thanks to the Wolfson Foundation for its generous support of the RNCM.
Contact Us
To learn more about how Trusts and Foundations support RNCM to power the music of tomorrow please contact Sarah Peach at [email protected] or 0161 907 5387.
How You’ve Made a Difference
Read our 2025-26 Annual Impact Report.