First Take

Funding, Mentoring & Studio Time
For Emerging Musical Talent

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Are you a musician, producer or songwriter aged 18-30?

Do you have a clear creative vision and ambition for your work?

We are proud to launch First Take - an artist development programme supporting emerging musicians aged 18-30 to develop their music and take the next step on their creative journey.

First Take is a new programme at Raw Material offering early stage musicians an exciting package of professional studio time,  industry mentoring and production to help them invest in their creative work, develop their skills, and finish and release their music. 

5 successful applications will be given a package of support worth £3,000 - including professional studio sessions with an engineer, 1:1 mentoring with industry experts, and a grant to help bring your creative work to life.

The funding will support 5 early career artists with:

  • 5x Full Days at Raw Material’s Studio with an Producer/Engineer.

  • A bursary/grant of £750 - to be used to support the delivery of your project.

  • 5x 1:1 Mentoring Sessions with an industry professional.

Aim:

  • To provide mentoring and production support to early stage musicians so they can take the next steps in their creative career.  

  • To support early stage musicians to invest in their creative work, develop their skills, and finish and release their music. 


Who is it for?

  • 18-30 year olds.

  • Those would not usually have access to opportunities like these.

  • Those who are at an early stage in their creative journey, but have a clear idea of their creative identity and vision.

Timeline:

The programme will run from May 2026 to February 2027. 

There will be an expectation of attendance at: 

  • All mentoring & all studio sessions agreed with your mentor and studio engineer

  • 3 in person cohort meetings (with other awardees)

  • at least 2x In the Mix Sessions 

How to Apply

To apply you need to submit an application form via the link below.

The application form is split into three sections: 

  • Section A. About You - is a series of general questions about you, and the type of music you make. 

  • Section B. Application Questions - is focused on learning more about your vision as an artist and what you want to achieve with the First Take Programme. 

Section C. Examples of Your Work - is where you upload a few demos / examples of your work.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • No, the fund is open to any genre or style of music. 

  • This can be spent on a range of project expenses such as: 

    • Mixing and mastering

    • Marketing

    • Session musicians 

    Up to £350 of the grant can be spent on a capital item that is relevant to your creativity or artistic practice such as equipment.

  • We know that using AI can help with writing applications and we are not against applicants using AI to support them. However, please make sure that it is an honest reflection of your creative ideas.

  • Your bio should aim to give as good an impression of you and your artistry as possible. We’d love to know how you see yourself and where you see yourself progressing. We’re looking for applicants who can show that they are reflective, intention and future minded.