Minister Catherine Martin today welcomed the announcement by Music Network of funding awards totalling €248,200, under the Music Capital Scheme 2020, which is divided between non-professional performing groups (€162,500) and individual, talented musicians (€85,700).

This initiative, which is in existence since 2008, is managed by Music Network and funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport & Media.

The Music Capital Scheme is designed to provide support for the purchase of musical instruments and to respond to a broad range of capital needs within the music sector in Ireland. A particular area of difficulty for musicians and ensembles is purchasing musical instruments. The cost of instrument purchase, maintenance and repair can be a costly barrier to the development of many organisations and individuals and the Music Capital Scheme aims to address this.

The scheme is made of two distinct awards that provide funding towards the purchase of musical instruments both to performing groups and individual musicians at a professional performing standard.

Under Award 1, €162,500 for the purchase of musical instruments was awarded to 29 not-for-profit and community music groups across a wide range of musical genres.

Under Award 2, €85,700 was awarded to 21 highly skilled, performing musicians to assist with the purchase of instruments and equipment. 

Commenting on these allocations, Minister Martin said:

“I am delighted to have provided support to The Music Capital Scheme this year. It is important to enable musicians develop their craft and by helping them to buy their instruments we are ensuring they continue to grow and develop their skills. This scheme supports a very wide range of musicians including youth bands, ensembles, orchestras, community initiatives and resource organisations in every corner of the State.”