The Rosl Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £174,285 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (hundreds apply annually)
• Decision Time: Multi-stage competition process over several months
• Grant Range: £3,000 - £15,000 (individual awards); £10,000 (ensemble awards)
• Geographic Focus: UK, Commonwealth, former Commonwealth, USA, EU/EEA, Switzerland, Japan, South Korea

Contact Details

Address: Royal Overseas League, Overseas House, Park Place, London SW1A 1LR

Phone: 020 7016 6910

Email: bneale@rosl.org.uk (general); roslarts@rosl.org.uk (arts enquiries)

Website: www.rosl.org.uk

Overview

The ROSL Foundation (Charity no. 306095) was established on 1 January 1960 to mark the Royal Over-Seas League's Golden Jubilee. For over 70 years, the Foundation has supported the careers of emerging musicians and visual artists primarily from the Commonwealth and, more recently, Europe and the USA. With total income of £235,922 and expenditure of £174,285 in 2024, the Foundation focuses on three core areas: the Annual Music Competition (which awards over £70,000-£80,000 annually), visual arts residencies at The Art House in Wakefield, and the preservation of the Grade I listed Over-Seas House in London. The Foundation operates as the charitable arm of the Royal Over-Seas League, making grants to both individuals and organisations in the arts, education, and heritage sectors.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Annual Music Competition (£70,000-£80,000 total awards)

• Gold Medal and First Prize: £15,000 (£10,000 cash + £5,000 professional development scholarship)
• Solo Category Winners (4 awards): £5,000 each
• String Ensemble Prize: £10,000
• Mixed Ensemble Prize: £10,000
• Collaborative Piano Award: £5,000
• ROSL Overseas Award: £3,000
• Additional discretionary awards: Up to £18,000 for specific categories including non-UK Commonwealth musicians, particular instruments, and young musicians of exceptional promise

Application method: Online via Acceptd platform, annual application cycle (deadline typically early January)

Visual Arts International Residency (2 residencies annually)

• Two-month fully funded residency at The Art House, Wakefield
• Includes: travel costs, visa costs, living expenses (per diem), free studio space and accommodation
• Access to fully equipped Print Studio, Ceramic Studio, and Darkroom with technical support
• Networking opportunities in London, attendance at Frieze, exhibition opportunity at The Art House

Application method: Annual open call (application periods vary)

Pettman/ROSL Scholarship (for New Zealand musicians)

• Value: NZ$15,000 per student
• Recipients chosen through the At the World's Edge Festival young artists programme
• Tailored professional development activities including lessons, workshops, masterclasses, or courses

Application method: Through participation in At the World's Edge Festival

Priority Areas

• Music: Classical instrumentalists and singers aged 18-30, chamber ensembles
• Visual Arts: Contemporary visual art practice including photography, new media, fine art, artists' moving image, sculpture, live art, crafts, design, architecture, site-specific, socially engaged and interdisciplinary practices
• Education & Training: Career development for emerging artists
• Heritage Preservation: Maintaining Over-Seas House, a Grade I listed building

What They Don't Fund

• Artists who have previously won ROSL solo prizes (cannot re-enter as soloists)
• Visual artists who have previously exhibited or worked in the UK (for the International Residency programme)
• Musicians outside the specified age range (18-30 for the Annual Music Competition)
• Non-classical music genres for the music competition
• Applications outside specified geographic eligibility (must be from UK, Commonwealth, former Commonwealth, USA, EU/EEA, Switzerland, Japan, or South Korea)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (as of 2024)

Chair of Trustees: The Hon. Alexander Downer AC (appointed April 2021)

• Former Australian Foreign Minister for 12 years and Member of Parliament for 24 years
• Executive Chair of the International School for Government at King's College London
• Quote: “As a citizen of the Commonwealth, I am enthusiastic about the work ROSL has done to promote the arts internationally, to help people suffering from disadvantage and to provide a home away from home for many in London.”

Other Trustees:

• Dr Annette Prandzioch (Director General of ROSL, appointed July 2020)
• Anne Wilkinson (Deputy Chairman of Central Council, appointed May 2023)
• Hamish Stuart Kean (appointed May 2023)
• Helen Prince (appointed May 2021)
• Francis Terence Warn (appointed December 2020)

Trustee Remuneration: No trustees receive compensation or benefits from the Foundation.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Annual Music Competition:

1. Applications submitted online via the Acceptd platform (app.getacceptd.com/rosl)
2. Application deadline: Typically early January (e.g., 5 January 2026 at 5pm for the 2026 competition)
3. Eligibility: Citizens of UK, Commonwealth and former Commonwealth countries, USA, all EU and EEA countries, Switzerland, Japan, and South Korea; instrumentalists and singers aged 18-30
4. Video submission required for preliminary rounds: must be high quality (clear sound and vision), unedited, recorded in one take. For solo pianists, hands and face must be in shot at all times
5. Programme alteration policy: Changes to submitted programmes only accepted in exceptional circumstances after acceptance
6. Questions can be emailed to: roslarts@rosl.org.uk

Visual Arts International Residency:

1. Annual open call for proposals
2. Must be from Commonwealth (or former Commonwealth) country, USA, EU/EEA, or Switzerland
3. Must not have previously exhibited or worked in the UK
4. Open to all contemporary visual art practices
5. Application periods vary - check rosl.org.uk for current open calls

Pettman/ROSL Scholarship:

• No direct application - recipients chosen through At the World's Edge Festival young artists programme

Decision Timeline

Annual Music Competition:

• Application deadline: Early January
• Stage 1 preliminary video rounds: January-February
• Stage 2 rounds: Timing varies
• Stage 3 rounds and finals: Spring (typically March-May)
• Gold Medal Final: Late spring
• Total timeline: Approximately 4-5 months from application to final decision

Visual Arts Residency:

• Residency announcements made several months before residency start dates
• Residencies typically take place between May-July

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, “hundreds of talented young musicians apply each year” for approximately 10-12 major prizes in the Annual Music Competition, suggesting a highly competitive process with single-digit percentage success rates.

Reapplication Policy

Annual Music Competition:

• Unsuccessful applicants are explicitly encouraged to reapply in future years
• Many past ROSL winners have appeared more than once before winning
• Restriction: Once a competitor has won a prize, they are not eligible for that prize in subsequent years
• Previous Gold Medal winners cannot re-enter the competition as soloists

Visual Arts Residency:

• Previous unsuccessful applicants may reapply in subsequent years
• Previous residency recipients would not be eligible as they would have already worked in the UK

Feedback Policy: The decision of the Adjudicating Panel is final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding competition decisions.

Application Success Factors

Competition-Specific Guidance from ROSL

Programming Requirements:

• “Candidates should present a varied, imaginative and well balanced programme predominantly of Western classical music”
• Repertoire choice is free but plays an important part of assessment
• Programming should “best represent you as an artist”
• ROSL “encourages applicants to consider their programming carefully at application stage”
• Arrangements of works originally written for other instruments are acceptable
• All vocal works should be sung in their original language

Adjudication Criteria:

According to ROSL adjudicators: They look for “excellent technical performance, programming and commitment,” with a focus on how artists "presented the music, with the warning that 'it is not just entertainment.'" This suggests adjudicators value:

• Technical excellence
• Thoughtful, artistic programming choices
• Deep musical commitment and interpretation
• Substance over superficial entertainment value

Video Submission Standards:

• Videos must be of high quality (though not necessarily professional)
• Must have clear sound and vision
• Must be unedited and clearly recorded in one take
• For solo pianists: hands and face must be in shot at all times
• Contact roslarts@rosl.org.uk if you need advice on making videos

Visual Arts Residency Selection:

• Proposals should demonstrate how the residency will “help develop the practice of artists living and working internationally”
• Open to diverse contemporary practices (not limited to traditional fine art)
• Emphasis on artists who haven't yet had UK exposure

Recent Award Recipients as Examples

2025 Music Competition Winners:

• Oboist Ewan Millar (Wind, Brass, and Percussion category)
• Soprano Madeleine Perring (Singers category)
• Pianist Rafael Kyrychenko (Keyboard category)
• Violinist Mabelle Park (Strings category)
• Regency Quartet (String Ensemble Prize)
• Delphine Trio (Mixed Ensemble Prize)
• Julian Chan (Collaborative Piano Prize)

2024 Music Competition Winners:

• Daniel Shao (flute)
• Dafydd Jones (tenor)
• Ignas Maknickas (piano)
• Jordan Brooks (violin)

2024 Pettman/ROSL Scholarship Recipients:

• Madeleine Xiao and Lorna Zhang (joint winners)

2025 Visual Arts Residency Recipients:

• Geovanni Barrios
• Behnaz Fatemi

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Competitive but welcoming to repeat applicants: While hundreds apply annually for limited prizes, ROSL explicitly encourages unsuccessful applicants to reapply, and many winners succeed after multiple attempts
• Programming is as important as technical ability: Adjudicators assess repertoire choices as a key part of the application; select works that showcase your artistry and present a “varied, imaginative and well balanced programme”
• Video quality matters: Invest time in creating high-quality, unedited single-take videos with clear sound and vision; ROSL offers advice if needed (roslarts@rosl.org.uk)
• Geographic eligibility expanded beyond Commonwealth: Recent expansion to include USA, EU/EEA, Switzerland, Japan, and South Korea increases opportunities for international musicians
• Professional development focus: The £5,000 professional development scholarship for Gold Medal winners shows ROSL's commitment to ongoing career support, not just one-time awards
• Multi-stage process rewards preparation: With preliminary video rounds followed by live performances, applicants should be prepared for a 4-5 month competition process
• No application fees and substantial prizes: The competition awards £70,000-£80,000 annually across multiple categories, making it one of the UK's most significant opportunities for emerging musicians

References

• The ROSL Foundation - Charity Commission Register -
• ROSL Foundation: Championing Musical and Artistic Excellence -
• Annual Music Competition - ROSL -
• ROSL Scholarships & Residencies -
• ROSL International Residency -
• ROSL announces its Gold Medal finalists and Collaborative Piano prize winner for the 2025 Annual Music Competition - The Classical Source -
• The Honourable Alexander Downer AC appointed as new ROSL Chairman -
• ROSL: Our Royal Charter & Charitable Foundation -
• Royal Over-Seas League Announces Pettman Scholarship Recipients - The Violin Channel -
• Duo awarded Pettman/ROSL Scholarship - University of Auckland -