Grants available for free instruments for Kildare musicians
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NON-professional musicians in Kildare looking for a leg up have until 2pm on 27 November to apply to the Music Network agency for grants to buy instruments and equipment.
This year a record €1,939,700 funding is available for the entire scheme which is supported by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport – a substantial 78 per cent increase on previous year.
Of that, €1.04m is available now through Awards 1, 2 and 3, which support non-professional performing groups and individual professional musicians for capital purchases, with the other €940,000 being released for application in January.
The three open awards are open to non-professional performing groups (Award 1), established professional musicians (Award 2), and emerging professional musicians (Award 3).
Two additional awards introduced in 2024 – providing string instruments on loan and supporting venues to acquire or refurbish concert-standard grand pianos – will open in the new year.
Since in caption in 2008, the scheme has made 657 awards, providing access to instruments for over 59,000 people across Ireland.
227 performing groups have been able to purchase instruments and expand their memberships, and 263 professional established and emerging musicians have advanced their careers with instruments enabled by the scheme.
All applicant supports are provided free of charge. Enquiries can be sent to Sarah Ledwidge, Music Capital Scheme Manager at 083 016 2718 or capitalscheme@musicnetwork.ie
