Musical Instruments for Professional and Non-Professional Performing Groups Programme (UK)

Deadline: 30-Sep-2024

Submissions are now open for the Musical Instruments for Professional and Non-Professional Performing Groups Programme.

The Arts Council has designed this programme to provide support for the purchase of musical instruments by groups involved in the professional and non-professional performance of music and to respond to a broad range of capital needs within the music sector in Northern Ireland.

Funding is intended to increase the quality of music-making in the community by helping eligible groups purchase new instruments.

Particular priority will be given to applications which can clearly demonstrate:

• a commitment to training/tuition/education and performance
• a commitment to artistic development
• an ability to increase access to music provision in rural areas.

Funding Information

• You may apply for a maximum grant of £30,000.

Timeframe

• You should only apply to this programme if you will be able to complete the procurement, purchase and delivery of your requested instruments between notification of award (anticipated November 2024) and 14 March 2025.

Eligibility Criteria

• The Arts Council welcomes applications from the widest possible range of organisations and from applicants whose projects benefit individuals categorised under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
• This scheme is open to professional and non-professional performing groups, involved in regular performance in any genre, who are based in and will make regular use of the instruments in Northern Ireland.
  • Community, youth, resource organisations and schools are regularly involved in music performance in the non-professional sector.
  • All applicant groups must be formally constituted and must operate as not-for-profit, a voluntary organisation or a charitable body. Purchased instruments will then be owned by the constituted group (as opposed to any individual within the group). The organisation/group must have its own separate bank account ie a non-personal account. (Personal bank accounts will not be accepted in relation to payment of an award.)
• The following types of groups are eligible for this scheme:
  • Amateur/Youth Orchestras and Ensembles
  • Choirs and Orchestras
  • Classical Ensembles
  • Community Music Groups
  • Musical Societies
  • Percussion/Samba Bands
  • Pop/Rock Ensembles
  • Traditional Ensembles
• In addition, the following organisations, if they are regularly involved in music performance by groups in the non-professional sector, are eligible to apply:
  • Community organisations
  • Music schools
  • Resource organisations
  • Venues
  • Youth groups
  • Parent teacher associations
  • Primary/post-primary schools
• Please Note:
  • Parent teacher associations are eligible to apply; however, Arts Council will only accept one application from either the parent teacher association or the associated school.
  • Please see important points below re applicant schools.
• Primary/Post primary schools
  • Please note the following if you are a school who is considering applying to this scheme:
    • Applications from schools are only eligible in relation to non-core curriculum activities.
    • They will give priority to eligible applications from schools which can clearly demonstrate:
      • A commitment to training/tuition/education and performance
      • A commitment to artistic development; and
      • Are based in a rural community.

Ineligible

• Groups who have received an award from this scheme in the previous 5 years.
• The following types of groups cannot apply to this scheme and should instead apply to the Musical Instruments for Bands programme;
  • Accordion Orchestra/Band (part, melody or marching)
  • Brass Band
  • Concert Band
  • Flute Band (part, melody or marching)
  • Pipe Band
  • Wind Band
• Organisations who are in breach of the terms of any previous ACNI grant awards
• Individuals.

For more information, visit Arts Council of Northern Ireland.