The Arts Council, The IRMA Trust and Music Network today announced details of the Music Capital Scheme and Research Project, an action-research initiative designed to provide support for the purchase of musical instruments in 2008. The scheme and research project will be operated on a pilot basis in 2008 and will be designed to recommend formalised structures for ongoing support in this area beyond 2008. Closing date for applications 5:30pm Monday 29th September.

Commenting on the initiative, Mary Cloake, Director of The Arts Council said, "The Arts Council is aware of a range of needs for capital investment in music throughout Ireland. One of the principal areas of difficulty for musicians and for ensembles can be the purchasing of instruments. The costs of instrument purchase, maintenance and repair can be significant barriers to the development of many organisations and this scheme aims to address this."

There are three categories of support under the Music Capital Scheme aimed at highly skilled performing artists, non-professional performing groups/ensembles and those working in youth or community organisations supporting musical practice. This scheme marks a new departure for The Arts Council as for the first time non-professional music groups can apply for funding under one strand of the scheme.

The Music Capital Scheme, managed by Music Network, will focus exclusively on the area of music instrument purchase in 2008. Awards in this scheme will be made to individual artists, to ensembles and to organisations supporting musical practice in other ways. A total fund of up to €350,000 in grant aid is available in 2008, of which up to €130,000 is specifically intended to support the purchase of rehearsal equipment and instruments for use by youth and community groups, via a once-off investment in the scheme funded by the IRMA Trust.  

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