Reports emerged over the weekend that the upcoming Budget 2021 due tomorrow Tuesday October 22nd, will feature grants and supports for the beleaguered live music industry in Ireland, which has been practically non-existent since March.
According to reports in The Journal the Budget will make more than previous grants that was available earlier this summer, including the €5 million package, made available under the Live Performance Support Scheme.
The plans supposedly include:
- The expansion of the Live Performance Support Scheme, where live music venues and promoters with an established track record of all sizes will be able to apply for a minimum of €10,000 under the scheme up to a maximum €800,000 on a matched funding basis which can be used to fund a percentage of eligible costs for live music, operating in a reduced capacity.
- The scheme will help to de-risk the costs of preparing for new productions which may subsequently have to be postponed, cancelled or curtailed due to restrictions to safeguard public health. The main objective of the scheme is to provide employment opportunities in the ticketed performance sector
- The events being funded will also have to comply with public health guidelines and can only be held during Level 1 and 2 of the government’s Living with Covid-19 roadmap, which sets out that indoor events can have between 50 and 100 people in attendance.
- It will also be open to schools and colleges, dance and drama schools, as well as musical and drama societies.
- The Music Stimulus Package which opened with €1 million fund for professional musicians and their teams to help fund songwriting camps, recording and album releases will be expanded.
