€335,500 fund is now available to Irish musicians to buy instruments
Details of the Music Capital Scheme have been announced for this year with a total of €335,500 in funding is being made available.
The Music Capital Scheme, established by the Arts Council, supported by the Department for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and managed by Music Network, comprises two three awards that provide funding for the purchase of musical instruments to non-professional performing groups (usually youth and community initiatives, choirs, orchestras, brass and pipe bands) and to professional musicians (all individuals).
This year, an award specifically for emerging professional musicians is the third award.
Here’s the detail:
Music Capital Scheme Award 1
Applications are invited from a wide range of non-professional performing groups, including but not limited to orchestras, marching/concert/pipe bands, Irish traditional, popular, contemporary, jazz, choral and samba groups.
Music Capital Scheme Award 2
Applications are invited from individual established musicians performing at professional level to assist with the purchase of instruments across genres including, but not limited to Irish traditional, classical, jazz/improvised, electro-acoustic, blues, Americana and early music.
Music Capital Scheme Award 3
Applications are invited from individual emerging musicians performing at professional level to assist with the purchase of instruments across genres including, but not limited to Irish traditional, classical, jazz/improvised, electro-acoustic, blues, Americana and early music.
The scheme runs til April 21st.
Information session
Music Network are hosting an info session on Tuesday 29th March 2022 (non-professional performing groups – Award 1) and Thursday 31st March 2022 (established & emerging individual professional performing musicians – Award 2 & 3) at 6 pm on their Facebook page.
Music Capital Scheme History
The Music Capital Scheme has been active since 2008 and has been responsible for:
- 176 performing groups being able to purchase instruments and expand their memberships
- €2,354,895 in award funding which has benefitted musicians and performing groups
- 135 professional musicians reaching their full potential with funding to purchase new instruments
- 42,000+ beneficiaries from early-years to mature players, including musicians with physical and intellectual disabilities, have received vital support through the scheme
- 176 performing groups being able to purchase instruments and expand their memberships
- €2,354,895 in award funding which has benefitted musicians and performing groups
- 135 professional musicians reaching their full potential with funding to purchase new instruments
- 42,000+ beneficiaries from early-years to mature players, including musicians with physical and intellectual disabilities, have received vital support through the scheme
“The Music Capital Scheme is a vital resource that helps groups and talented individuals purchase musical instruments. Thousands have already benefitted from the scheme to date, and this round of the scheme will support a wide range of musicians nationwide and across all genres, giving them access to instruments and enabling them to develop their talent for live performance.”
Minister Catherine Martin
