Music Network was established by The Arts Council of Ireland in 1986 to make live music of the highest quality available and accessible to everyone in Ireland, regardless of their location or circumstance, while supporting the career development of musicians. Our main strands of activity are:
CONCERTS: Each year, we subsidise up to two hundred and fifty concerts of classical, jazz and traditional Irish music. We work in partnership with a network of approximately one hundred and nine regionally and locally-based organisations throughout the country. This partnership approach develops the capacity of local communities to provide musical activity within their region, and develop the musical life of their community in the longer term.
DEVELOPMENT: In order to support professional musicians, we provide performance opportunities, resources such as award schemes and professional development programmes. We also provide a range of support services to our network of partner promoters such as factsheets, access to high-quality classical, jazz and traditional Irish musicians at a subsidised cost and the Partner Promoter E-Bulletin.
INFORMATION RESOURCES: We are a source of information to the music sector and general public about music resources, services and activities. Our monthly enewsletters carry the latest information on opportunities for musicians. Other resources include our online database of music teachers www.learnmusic.info, and the Irish Music Handbook Online, a one stop shop for information on the music sector in Ireland.
ADVOCACY: As the national agency for the development of music in Ireland, Music Network has initiated research projects in music in healthcare settings and is campaigning for increased provision for music education in Ireland.
