Over €10k in funding for Dundalk's An Táin Arts Centre under Music Capital Scheme

An Táin Arts Centre has been awarded €10,675 in funding from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Music Capital Scheme, Music Network has today announced.

Established in 2008, the Music Capital Scheme is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and managed by Music Network.  The Scheme has enabled many thousands of musicians across Ireland to develop their musical potential and participate in the performance of live music, performing in genres including traditional Irish, classical, folk, jazz, electro-acoustic, rock and pop.

A total of €349,150 in funding from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media has been granted to 76 awardees which will potentially benefit over 5,000 musicians based throughout Ireland.  

Commenting on the initiative, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin TD said:

“I would like to sincerely thank Music Network for managing the Music Capital Scheme once again. 

“This funding allows so many deserving organisations and individuals to receive the support they need to purchase musical instruments and, as a former music teacher, that is such a wonderful thing to be a part of. 

“Prioritisation was established in the previous round of funding for organisations working with older musicians and musicians with disabilities, and I am very happy to see this priority has been retained.  

“These organisations include resource organisations and music schools offering inclusive music classes, and choral and instrumental groups with a wide age-range among their membership.  The Bluestack Special Needs Foundation and Ceolan Community Group are just 2 of the organisations that received prioritisation on this occasion.       

Since its inception 15 years ago, this capital scheme is one of my Department’s key funding initiatives and I am so happy that we are once again in a position to financially support the scheme.  

“Good quality musical instruments are so important to individual musicians and to musical groups, and I have no doubt the benefits of the Musical Capital Scheme funding to the 26 non-professional performing groups and 50 individual musicians based throughout Ireland will be felt for many years to come.”  

Music Network’s CEO Sharon Rollston commented:

“Since establishing The Music Capital Scheme together with The Arts Council 15 years ago, we have made 544 awards to individual musicians and organisations, providing access to musical instruments for over 51,000 people.  

“Our mission is to make high quality live music accessible to communities throughout Ireland, and to support professional musicians to excel in the performance and creation of music. 

“The number and range of instruments provided through the Music Capital Scheme year-on-year continue to make a significant impact on the quality of, and access to, music making and live music performance across Ireland.  

“We’re very grateful for the continued support of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in funding this valuable resource for the music sector.” 

The Scheme provides funding for the purchase of musical instruments across three categories - Award 1 provides funding to non-professional music and community groups, Award 2 is for established professional musicians while Award 3 supports emerging professional musicians.  

In Award 1, funding was awarded across the non-professional music sector, providing a range of community and music groups with financial support.  

In total 26 concert/marching/pipe bands, orchestras, samba bands and other music organisations were awarded a total of €175,000 for the purchase of musical instruments across a wide range of genres including Irish Traditional, Classical, Rock, Early Music/Baroque, Popular, Musical Theatre, Jazz and Contemporary.