The Music Capital Scheme is an annual fund made available to Irish musicians to buy instruments. This year’s fund stands at over €1 million.
The Scheme has three award strands that provide funding for non-professional performing groups (usually youth and community initiatives, choirs, orchestras, brass and pipe bands), professional musicians (all individuals) and emerging professional musicians specifically.
The fund for 2024 is now at a total of €542,000 in funding is available through Awards 1, 2 and 3 compared to €394,500 last year.
Two new awards stands aimed at professional classical string players and by arts venues presenting live music (ie. concert pianos), will be launched shortly bringing the total fund over €1 million.
The Music Capital Scheme Awards 1, 2 and 3 are now open for applications. Applications close on Tuesday 25 June 2024 at 2pm.
More information about the awards, guidelines and application forms are available on musicnetwork.ie
Enquiries can be sent to Sarah Cunningham, Music Capital Scheme Administrator:
E-mail [email protected]
About The Music Capital Scheme
The Music Capital Scheme, was established by the Arts Council in 2008, supported by the Department for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and managed by Music Network.
Since it was established the scheme has made 544 awards to individual musicians and organisations providing access to instruments for over 51,000 people across the country. Beneficiaries range from early years to mature players including musicians with physical and intellectual disabilities. 205 performing groups have been able to purchase instruments and expand their memberships, and 202 professional established and emerging musicians advanced their performance careers with new instruments enabled by the scheme. Previous awardees include The Bluestack Special Needs Foundation, renowned button accordion player Daithí Gormley and rising star cellist Grace Coughlan, who all received funding in the last round of the scheme.
Support for applicants
An extensive range of applicant supports will be delivered between now and the application deadline. These will be available to both organisations and individuals, with a particular focus on supporting first time and previously unsuccessful applicants. Music Network will host two online Information Sessions, one for organisations considering applying to Award 1 and one for individuals considering applying to Awards 2 or 3. Alongside this will be online seminars on key topics relating to the application process and a limited number of one-to-one consultation sessions on these topics Further details about these events are available on Music Network’s website.
All applicant supports are provided free of charge. Music Network is committed to equity and inclusion and welcomes applications from individuals within culturally diverse communities and people with disabilities.
