€500,000 fund for grassroots music venues announced
The Night-Time Economy Support Scheme has announced a fund for “Grassroots Music Venues” across the country.
The relevant venues can apply for a maximum grant of €15,000 towards the cost of programming live music events, it was announced bt The Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD.
Venues can avail of a maximum grant of €15,000 towards the cost of programming live music events, as part of the Night-Time Economy Action Plan.
The fund from the Grassroots Music Venue Support Scheme (GMVSS) can go towards supporting small established venues (500 cap or less) that promote themselves and are known in the community as live music venues or dance venues, with grassroots music performance forming a core part of their programming.
The programming events should showcase the talent of emerging, grassroots artists performing live or electronic music that they have written or created themselves. (This suggests DJs aren’t actually included here unless they are playing their own material, though the press release does state DJs are included, though it’s not clear whether the Government is confusing DJs with electronic producers or live electronic musicians).
Under the scheme, venues are required to ensure that all artists and freelance crew are paid.
Venues may also apply for funding towards production and crew costs, PR, advertising, ticketing, the hire of equipment, the hiring of security staff and event insurance costs.
The maximum grant amount allowable will be €15,000 per successful venue. Grantees may draw down funding for 75% of eligible costs up to a maximum of the allocated figure. The grantee will be required to self-fund the remaining 25% of eligible costs.
“Grassroots music venues are an integral part of the music ecosystem in Ireland and are vital to our communities. I want to support these venues so they can give opportunities to new and emerging artists and give them spaces to perform, develop their skills, and build their audiences. Many of the big acts that we see today in large arenas, started their careers performing in grassroots venues, so it is important that we support these venues to allow them to continue to provide these much needed opportunities for up and coming musicians and DJs.”
Minister Patrick O’Donovan.
The Grassroots Music Venue Support Scheme has been developed in consultation with representatives from the Live Venue Collective, grassroots music industry, Give Us The Night and the NTE Advisors.
Applications will be assessed on a first come first served basis.
Guidelines for the new scheme are available here .
Applications can be made for the new scheme here from noon today.
The Scheme will remain open until noon on 15 May 2025 or until the fund is exhausted, whichever occurs first.
This is a Night-Time Economy initiative in support of the work of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce and following a recommendation emerging from Action 5 in the revised Night-Time Economy Action Plan revised .
