Deadline: 22 May 2024
Culture Ireland now invites applications from musicians and bands who wish to participate in the prestigious showcase opportunity.
The Showcase Scheme has as its primary aim, the creation of new opportunities for Irish artists to present their work on the global stage. This aim is achieved through the support of Irish artists to participate at industry showcase events. Where possible as part of their participation. Culture Ireland facilitates artists to present their work to international delegates, including programmers and presenters.
Established in 1994, Celtic Connections is one of the leading annual festivals of world, folk and roots music with more than 2,100 musicians from across the globe taking part in 300 events at 25 Glasgow venues over 18 days. Each year, during Celtic Connections, Showcase Scotland partners with a country offering a showcase opportunity for a selected number of bands.
Selected Irish artists will perform as part of the Showcase Scotland event (Fri 24 January 2025) in front of an invited audience of approximately 180 international delegates, made up of industry professionals, agents, and festival and venue programmers. In addition, they will receive a paid performance as part of the Celtic Connections public programme during their visit.
Priorities
- The strategic priorities for the Showcase Scheme are:
- To ensure ongoing contact between Irish artists and key international presenters/programmers.
- To increase awareness and interest by the international sector of recent and new work by Irish artists with a view to future collaboration/partnership/presentation.
- To provide mentorship for artists with specific reference to presentation of their work in the international environment.
- To promote high quality digital recordings/promotional materials to showcase Irish artists.
Cost Covered
- Culture Ireland will support the travel costs and provide an honorarium associated with the showcase performance.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Musicians with an emerging profile of national and international performance (bands, ensembles and solo artists from across the island of Ireland are all eligible to apply).
- Applications will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:
- the artist(s) must demonstrate that they are in a position to capitalise on this opportunity including availability of promotional materials and management or agency support.
- quality of production and presentation.
- evidence of positive independent critical recognition.
- current international programming and touring trends.
- Applicants from new communities, minorities or artists presenting in the Irish language are particularly welcome, aligning with Culture Ireland’s strategic priorities.
- Artists who participated in the Ireland focus at Showcase Scotland in 2018 are not eligible for this opportunity.
For more information, visit Culture Ireland.
