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Music Capital Scheme

Music Capital Scheme
The Music Capital Scheme provides vital funding for musical instruments to both community music groups and individual musicians, an investment which continues to make a significant impact on the quality of, and access to, music-making and live music performance throughout Ireland.

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. Since it was established over €3,543,590 in funding has been awarded through 652 awards to individual musicians and organisations, providing access to instruments for over 59,000 people across the country.

Beneficiaries range from early years to mature players including musicians with physical and intellectual disabilities. 227 performing groups have been able to purchase instruments and expand their memberships, and 258 professional established and emerging musicians advanced their performance careers with new instruments enabled by the scheme.

Music Capital Scheme Recipients - Finglas Youth Resource Centre, Dublin

The scheme is open to groups and musicians performing a wide range of musical styles and operates five different awards which provides funding for the purchase of musical instruments and the loan of musical instruments, to established and emerging individual professional performing musicians, non-professional performing groups and arts venues and music presenters.

For more information or questions about applying to the Music Capital Scheme please contact Sarah Cunningham at capitalscheme@musicnetwork.ie or call +353 (0) 83 095 5956 (2 – 5.30pm excluding Wednesdays).

We are not currently accepting applications to the Music Capital Scheme awards 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Applications are now open for the Music Capital Scheme 2024 Piano Award (Award 5) which will provide up to €180,000 for the purchase or refurbishment of concert standard grand pianos for arts venues and music presenters across the country. Application for Award 5 close on Wednesday 19 February at 2pm. Find out more about Award 5 and how to apply.

Please see the Guidelines documents for the most recent round of the Music Capital Scheme below. New Guidelines documents will be in place for the next round of the Scheme.

Music Capital Scheme Award 1 (Non-professional performing groups)

Music Capital Scheme Award 2 (Individual established professional performing musicians)

Music Capital Scheme Award 3 (Individual emerging professional performing musicians)

Music Capital Sheme Award 4 (National Musical Instrument Collection)

Music Capital Scheme 2024 Piano Award (For arts venues and music presenters promoting excellence in music performance)

Music Capital Scheme awardee Mark Redmond (Uilleann pipes)
Professional musician Mark Redmond received a grant to support the purchase of a bespoke set of Uilleann pipes.
Music Capital Scheme Awardee Bunscoil Loreto Gorey (violins)
Bunscoil Loreto Gorey received a grant to support the purchase of violins for the school.
Music Capital Scheme Awardee Caitríona Frost (Marimba)
Professional musician Caitríona Frost received a grant to support the purchase of a marimba.