Music Network Music Capital Scheme 2024 – Ireland

An extensive range of applicant supports will be delivered between now and the application deadline. These will be available to both organisations and individuals, with a particular focus on supporting first time and previously unsuccessful applicants. Music Network will host two online Information Sessions, one for organisations considering applying to Award 1 and one for individuals considering applying to Awards 2 or 3. Alongside this will be online seminars on key topics relating to the application process and a limited number of one-to-one consultation sessions on these topics.

Music Network encourages prospective applicants with disabilities or access requirements who wish to submit an application or who have difficulties in accessing Online Services to make contact with us as early as possible before the deadline so that every effort to provide reasonable accommodation can be made.

A total of €542,000 in funding is available through the following awards which are now open for applications:

• Award 1 – for non-professional performing groups
• Award 2 – for individual established professional performing musicians
• Award 3 – for individual emerging professional performing musicians

Award Categories

• Award 1 (Non-professional performing groups)
  • This award is intended to support the purchase, maintenance and/or repair of instruments by organisations involved in the nonprofessional performance of music.
  • It is open directly to non-professional performing groups/ensembles in any genre. It is also open to community, youth and resource organisations who oversee music performance in the non-professional sector.
  • N.B. applications must relate to instruments that will be used by non-professional performers only, and instruments must be used for rehearsal/tuition and performance.
• Award 2 (Individual established professional performing musicians) 
  • This award is designed to provide support for highly-skilled individual established performing musicians working at a professional level, who seek support for the purchase of high quality instruments that are central to their performing career.
  • Established professional performing musicians are defined as those, of any age and performing in any genre, who have a demonstrable track record in professional music performance, although they may not earn income continuously/exclusively from their performance practice. They identify, and are recognised by their peers, as professional performing musicians. This award is open to musicians working as high-level performers in a solo capacity or as part of a small group/ensemble/collective in any musical genre.
• Award 3 (Individual emerging professional performing musicians) 
  • This award is designed to provide support for individual emerging performing musicians demonstrating exceptional potential and working at a professional level, who seek support for the purchase of high quality instruments that are central to their performing career.
  • Emerging professional performing musicians are defined as those, of any age and performing in any genre, who are in the process of mastering their music performance practice and are in the early years of establishing a professional performing career. They have some experience but have not yet established a solid reputation as professional performing musicians, and they identify, and are recognised by their peers, as professional performing musicians. This award is open to musicians working as high-level performers in a solo capacity or as part of a small group/ensemble/collective in any musical genre.

Funding Information

• Award 1 (Non-professional performing groups) 
  • The total funding available for the Music Capital Scheme 2024 Award 1 is €267,000.
• Award 2 (Individual established professional performing musicians) 
  • The total funding available for the Music Capital Scheme 2024 Award 2 is €185,000.
• Award 3 (Individual emerging professional performing musicians) 
  • The total funding available for the Music Capital Scheme 2024 Award 3 is €90,000.

Eligibility Criteria

• Award 1 (Non-professional performing groups) 
  • Applications from organisations who can demonstrate that their musical activities involve participants aged 65 and older will be prioritised for the Music Capital Scheme 2024 Award 1.
  • Applications from organisations who can demonstrate that their musical activities involve participants with disabilities will be prioritised for the Music Capital Scheme 2024 Award 1.
  • Brass, concert, marching, pipe, reed or silver bands
  • Non-professional ensembles of any genre
  • Choirs and musical societies
  • Percussion/samba bands
  • Amateur/youth orchestras and ensembles
  • Community music groups
  • Primary/post-primary schools, where applications relate to non-core curricular activities
  • Venues/resource organisations/community groups/youth groups/music schools/other agencies on behalf of established programmes of non-professional music performance.
  • Music Network is committed to equity and inclusion, and welcomes applications from groups within culturally diverse communities and from people with disabilities.
• For Award 2/Award 3
  • Individual musicians who are resident in the Republic of Ireland are eligible to apply to the Music Capital Scheme 2024 Award 2. Music Network is committed to equity and inclusion and welcomes applications from individuals within culturally diverse communities and from people with disabilities. Residency is based upon the Revenue Commissioners’ definition of the term:
    • You are resident in Ireland for tax purposes if you are present in Ireland for:
      • 183 days or more in a tax year or
      • 280 days or more in total, taking the current tax year plus the preceding tax year together. You will not be resident in Ireland if you are here for 30 days or less in a tax year.
  • Residents will have a valid PPS number.
  • There are certain exceptions where Music Network may deem eligible applications made by those based outside the Republic of Ireland. However, before admitting as eligible any such application, the applicant would need to explicitly outline within the application how the outcomes of any such proposal would benefit the arts in the Republic of Ireland.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Award 1 (Non-professional performing groups) 
  • Local Music Education Partnerships directly funded by Music Generation are not eligible to apply. However, applications are welcome from local music education providers regardless of any linkages with Local Music Education Partnership Music Generation Programmes.
  • For-profit companies are not eligible to apply.
  • Individuals are not eligible to apply.
  • Organisations based outside of the Republic of Ireland are not eligible to apply.
  • Previous Music Capital Scheme awardees who have not complied with the conditions of their award are not eligible to apply.
• Award 2 (Individual established professional performing musicians) 
  • Individuals under the age of 18 are not eligible to apply.
  • Previous Music Capital Scheme awardees who have not complied with the conditions of their award are not eligible to apply.
• Award 3 (Individual emerging professional performing musicians) 
  • Individuals under the age of 18 are not eligible to apply.
  • Previous Music Capital Scheme awardees who have not complied with the conditions of their award are not eligible to apply.
  • Previous Music Capital Scheme Award 2 awardees are not eligible to apply.

For more information, visit Music Network.