Deadline: 28-Jul-25
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is delighted to invite applications for its Musical Instruments Programme – Musical Instruments for Individuals to provide funding for highly-skilled, exceptional, high-profile performing musicians working only at a professional level who seek support for the purchase of high quality instruments that are central to their performing career.
This award is open to musicians working as a high-level performer in a solo capacity or as part of a small group/chamber ensemble in any musical genre. This scheme is aimed at providing instruments for rehearsal and performance. Applicants must evidence:
- That they are clearly a high quality, high impact artist
- That they have the respect of their peers and are acknowledged by senior artists or practitioners in their field with a public profile
- That they have received international or national awards, prizes and performances
- A strong record of significant work of outstanding potential.
Funding Information
- The minimum award will be £500; the maximum, £10,000. Your request must be within this range.
- Duration: You should only apply to this programme if you will be able to complete the procurement, purchase and delivery of your requested instrument between date of notification of award (September 2025) and the 31 March 2026.
Eligible Expenses
- Instruments for rehearsal and performance
- The instrument applied for must be the primary instrument of the applicant or one in which the applicant can demonstrate a track record of performance.
Ineligible Expenses
- Instruments that have been pre-ordered with a deposit prior to the issue of a letter of offer
- Second-hand instruments or equipment
- Choir risers
- Insurance/instrument maintenance costs
- Rehearsal space purchase/rental
Eligibility Criteria
- The Arts Council welcomes applications from the widest possible range of individuals and in particular from applicants categorised under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
- In addition, in order to be eligible to apply to this programme you must be a professional musician, and must be:
- living in Northern Ireland, who will make regular use of the instrument in Northern
- Ireland; (ACNI’s budgets are limited and subject to extremely high demand. Their priority must be for artists living and regularly contributing to the arts within Northern Ireland. If you are primarily living in another region of the UK, Republic of Ireland or elsewhere (i.e. you live in that region for the majority of the year), you should apply to the Arts Councils in the relevant jurisdiction. Where the Arts Council has concerns regarding this matter, they may seek further clarification from you with regard to this including documentary evidence.) and
- working as a high-level performer in a solo capacity or as part of a small group/chamber ensemble in any musical genre.
- Eligible applicants must also:
- Have made a contribution to artistic activities in Northern Ireland for a minimum period of 1 year within the last 5 years.
- Be at least 18yrs old and not in secondary education.
Ineligibility Criteria
- Non-professional musicians
- Individuals under the age of 18 or still in secondary education
- Applicants who have previously received an award from the Musical Instruments for
- Individuals Programme in the previous 8 years.
- Applicants who have broken the conditions of any previous ACNI award.
Application Requirements
- You must upload the following mandatory enclosures to your Musical Instruments for Individuals Programme application before submission:
- Your Artistic CV
- Reference from senior artist or practitioner in your genre
- Audio or video recordings of your performance of 2 contrasting works of no more than 8 minutes each
- 2 or more quotations for your requested instrument and for each item of equipment, depending on cost
- A scheduled plan for artistic growth and career development
- If in addition to your primary instrument, you are also requesting to purchase other eligible items, you must provide a detailed budget listing all the requested elements of your application request.
For more information, visit Arts Council of Northern Ireland.