Music Network today welcomed the announcement by Josepha Madigan TD, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, confirming funding of €270,250 for the Music Capital Scheme 2019.

The Music Capital Scheme, supported by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and managed by Music Network, comprises two distinct awards that provide funding for the purchase of musical instruments to both non-professional performing groups and to individual professional performing musicians.

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan TD said:
“I am very pleased that my Department is once again in a position to support the Music Capital Scheme, a vital music resource through which groups and talented individuals may be awarded funding towards the purchase of musical instruments. The Music Capital Scheme has benefitted thousands of people since its inception and this year’s scheme will add to the 349 awards granted to musicians and organisations under the scheme to date, supporting a range of individuals and groups countrywide”.

Commenting on the announcement, Music Network CEO Sharon Rollston said:
“We greatly appreciate the continued support of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in providing capital funding for instruments to musicians and a diverse range of groups such as youth bands, ensembles, orchestras, community initiatives and resource organisations. The instruments provided through the Music Capital Scheme continue to make a significant impact on the quality of, and access to, music making and live music performance throughout Ireland”.

The Music Capital Scheme was established by The Arts Council, The IRMA Trust and Music Network in 2008 as an action-research initiative designed to provide support for the purchase of musical instruments. In response to the success of the initial pilot scheme, funding has been made available since 2011 by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. The Music Capital Scheme has funded 349 musicians, groups and organisations, benefitting up to 35,000 people throughout Ireland since its inception in 2008.

The Music Capital Scheme will open for applications on Thursday 14th February with a deadline of 2pm, Thursday 21st March 2019. Further information is available at www.musicnetwork.ie/musicians/funding.

For further details, please contact Sarah Cunningham at Tel 01 475 0224 / capitalscheme@musicnetwork.ie.