Michael Lowry T.D. welcomes the announcement by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, confirming capital funds of €210,000 for the Music Capital Scheme 2015

This scheme provides funding for the purchase of musical instruments to both non-professional performing groups/ensembles and professional musicians. The Music Capital Scheme will open for applications on Monday, 14th September 2015, with a deadline of Thursday, 15th October 2015. Online application forms will be accessible through this page, and guidelines will also be available. The allocation of funding will come in two stream.

The scheme is entering it 8th year and was originally established by The Arts Council, The IRMA Trust and Music Network. Due to the success of the scheme funding has been provided since 2011 by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. This year the scheme is managed by Music Network Ireland.

STREAM 1

Stream 1 will be open for applications from non-professional performing groups or ensembles, and organisations seeking to buy instruments on behalf of non-professional music making in any genre.

As well as completing the online application form, Stream 1 applicants will be required to submit the following essential support material to Music Network by post:

Essential support material (Stream 1):
– History of organisation
– Biography of key artistic personnel
– Quotations from two instrument dealers for proposed purchases
– A copy of your child/vulnerable adults protection policy and procedures (if organisation involves people under the age of 18/vulnerable adults)
– Copy of constitution or memorandum and articles of association of organisation (primary/post primary schools are not required to supply this item)

Stream 1 applicants may also submit the following optional support material by post:

Optional support material (Stream 1):
– Recordings in audio CD or standard DVD formats only (please indicate which tracks/chapters should be listened to/viewed, and label -recordings thoroughly including listing all artists as well as date and place of recording) – highly recommended.
– Publicity material – posters, programmes, fliers etc.
– Press cuttings or adjudication sheets from competitions
– Confirmation of partnership funding (if already secured)
– Stamped self-addressed envelope of adequate dimensions, and with adequate postage attached, if you require your support material to be returned.

STREAM 2

Stream 2 will be open for applications from highly skilled performing artists seeking to buy a high-value musical instruments.

As well as completing the online application form, Stream 2 applicants will be required to submit the following essential support material to Music Network by post:

Essential support material (Stream 2):
– Full CV including details of training, performance history and names of groups/ensembles/musicians with whom you have collaborated
– Recordings in audio CD or standard DVD formats only. (Note: You must indicate which tracks/chapters should be listened to/viewed. Please label recordings thoroughly including listing all artists as well as date and place of recording. Recordings are not required to be produced by a professional production company, but should be clearly relevant to the application.)
– Two quotations from instrument dealers for proposed purchases or similar

Stream 2 applicants may also submit the following optional support material by post:

Optional support material (Stream 2):
– Reviews, press cuttings or other printed material etc.
– Stamped self-addressed envelope of adequate dimensions, and with adequate postage attached, if you require your support material to be returned.

MUSIC CAPITAL SCHEME ADVICE CLINICS
Music Capital Scheme advice clinics will be held in Limerick (Culture House), Dublin (National Concert Hall Building), Cork (CIT Cork School of Music), Galway (An Taibhdhearc) and Kilkenny (Kilkenny Castle) between 22nd and 30th September. More details here.

Read the FAQs from last year’s Music Capital Scheme Clinics here.

Information provided by The Music Network Ireland Website