In 2008 the Arts Council set aside an amount of €500,000 for the implementation of a Music Capital Scheme, aimed specifically at providing funding for musical instrument purchase and other capital requirement needs of music organisations throughout the country. The scheme is to be rolled out over a three-year period 2008 — 2010. Music Network agreed to partner the Arts Council in the delivery of this initiative across the three-year timeframe.
The 2008 allocations were announced by the Arts Council in association with the IRMA Trust and Music Network (MN) in November last. A total of €347,000 has been awarded to professional musicians, non-professional performing groups and community-based organisations involved in supporting music practice in their area for the purchase of musical instruments and rehearsal equipment. Following a call for proposals under the scheme 298 applications were received across three funding streams with the value of funding requests totalling in excess of €2,200,000.
The Arts Council intends to undertake research into Capital Requirements in music and therefore it is proposed that there will be an action research aspect to the delivery of the Scheme. This will allow the Arts Council to gather critical information in relation to capital needs in music and ultimately will inform Arts Council policy in relation to capital requirements for music going forward.
The Music Capital Scheme is a matter for the Arts Council and I have no statutory function regarding its administration.