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Minister Deenihan Announces €200,000 Funding for Music Capital Scheme and Music Day

Jimmy Deenihan TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, has today announced capital funding of €200,000 for the Music Capital Scheme and for National Music Day 2013.

Both initiatives are managed by Music Network.

The Music Capital Scheme provides funding for the purchase of musical instruments to both non-professional performing groups/ensembles and professional performing artists. €185,000 will be allocated to the scheme. The high number of applications to the scheme each year brings home the level of need that exists in the area of capital provision for music. The new scheme will where possible give an additional weighting to applications from disadvantaged areas.

Love:live music, Ireland’s National Music Day, celebrates the value of music, through free live music events, in communities across the country on 21st June each year. In 2012, Love:live music almost doubled in size compared to the 2011 event. There were over 300 free live music events and an estimated 45,000 people taking part.

Announcing the grant Minister Deenihan commented:

"I'm pleased to announce support for both the Music Capital Scheme and National Music Day 2013, both of which are managed by Music Network.

"The Music Capital Scheme supports a very wide range of musicians including youth bands, ensembles, orchestras, community initiatives and resource organisations in every corner of the State. They perform a wide variety of music ranging across rock, pop and contemporary, classical, traditional Irish, Baroque, jazz and electronic music.

"I hope this funding can help to bring music to a wider audience on the next National Music Day and support musicians access the instruments they need through the Music Capital Scheme."

The Music Capital Scheme will open for applications at the beginning of September. Further details are available at www.musicnetwork.ie