From left to right: Joe Davitt (Na Píobairí Uilleann), Minister Josepha Madigan TD, Sarah Malone (MaSamba School), Mary Godkin (Dublin Concert Band), Emma Driver (MaSamba), Rachel Fox (NPU), Aoife Vaughan (NPU), Noel Cavanagh (DCB).

€245k Available for Musicians, Bands and Orchestras to Buy Instruments

Scheme open to professional artists and non-professional groups and ensembles in any genre. Deadline: 21 March.

Music Network has announced €245,400 in available funding for artists, orchestras, bands and groups to buy musical instruments under the Music Capital Scheme 2019.

Funded by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the scheme has two strands: (1) Non-Professional Performing Groups, and (2) Individual Professional Performing Musicians.

There is €163,400 available under strand 1 and €82,000 for strand 2. Applications are open since 14 February and the deadline is 2pm on Thursday 21 March 2019.

The €245k in funding from the Department is a 10% increase on last year’s €224k. Previous recipients of the awards include uilleann piper Seán McKeon, Brían Mac Gloinn of Ye Vagabonds, the Irish Film & Pops Orchestra, Julianstown Youth Orchestra, harper Laoise Kelly, violinist Patrick Joseph Rafter and fiddle-player Caoimhin Ó Raghallaigh.

For full details on applying, visit https://www.musicnetwork.ie/musicians/funding