The Music Capital Scheme provides funding for the purchase of musical instruments to individual professional performing musicians and non-professional performing groups.
The deadline for the next round of funding is 2pm, Tuesday 28th February 2023.
If you are thinking of making an application we've put together some frequently asked questions and tips to help with your application. You can also watch our online information sessions at the end of this article for more advice on how to prepare your application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Award 1
Q: I’m not sure how many quotations to submit with my organisation’s application.
A: List all the instruments/items you plan to purchase along with the cost of each from your preferred supplier, and add up the total cost. If the total cost is under €5,000 you must submit quotations from two separate suppliers for each item; if the total cost is €5,000 or more, you must submit quotations from three separate suppliers for each item. In order to be eligible, your application must include the correct number of quotations from separate suppliers.
Award 2 and Award 3
Q: I’m an individual professional performing musician planning to purchase a bespoke instrument / to purchase from one particular supplier, do I still need to submit two quotations?
A: Yes! In order to be eligible, your Award 2 or Award 3 application must include quotations for the proposed instrument for purchase from two separate suppliers. You should submit one quotation from your chosen instrument maker/supplier, and a second quotation from a different supplier for the closest comparable instrument (it is understood that the instrument won’t be exactly the same).
All awards
Q: I’m preparing my application, what should my instrument quotations look like?
A: In order to be eligible, your application must include quotations which display the supplier’s name, instrument specifications and cost, in a screen capture from the supplier’s website, or an email/letter from the supplier. As links to supplier websites can expire/become inactive, they cannot be submitted instead of quotations.
Tips for applicants
Make sure to read the relevant guidelines document and application form for the award to which you plan to apply.
- Have a clear and realistic idea of the costs involved in your proposal and clearly outline sources of income.
- Make sure your application is clear, concise and unambiguous; do not assume that assessors are familiar with your work
- Keep the selection criteria in mind when writing the application and choosing support materials to submit
- Be selective with support material, ensuring that it is the best representation of your work. Support material should primarily be recent work and relate clearly to the proposed instrument(s) for purchase
- Ask a friend or colleague to look over your application before you submit it
- Prepare and submit your application well in advance of the deadline: 2pm, Tuesday 28th February 2023
- Make sure to include all of the Essential Support Materials for the award to which you plan to apply; in order to be eligible, your application must include all Essential Support Materials. Full details of the Essential Support Materials are in the Guidelines documents, available on the Music Capital Scheme website page.
- If you are unsure of anything please ask. You can contact Sarah Cunningham, Music Capital Scheme Administrator if you have any questions: 083 0955 956 / capitalscheme@musicnetwork.ie.
Watch our online information sessions for further details on applying to the Music Capital Scheme:
Get in touch with Sarah Cunningham, Music Capital Scheme Administrator if you have any questions: 083 0955 956 / capitalscheme@musicnetwork.ie.
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 is open to groups and musicians performing a wide range of musical styles, and to date more than €2 million has been awarded across two distinct awards. The instruments purchased through the scheme continue to make a significant impact on the quality of, and access to, music making and live music performance throughout Ireland.