Deadline: 10-Jul-25
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is currently accepting applications for its WOMEX Bursaries Grant Program to collectively promote the music of nations of the UK & Ireland at WOMEX.
This will be the eleventh occasion of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s attendance at WOMEX which has fast become the most important international professional market for world music of every kind including folk, roots, ethnic and traditional music.
The five-day event attracts over 2,500 delegates from over 90 countries, including hundreds of concert and festival bookers, labels, publishers, distributors, managers, and the world’s media. Selected delegates will participate in the national stand to promote their work to international arts industry presenters and promoters.
Funding Information
- The award – £700 per delegate – is towards the costs of registration for the conference, return flights and a contribution towards accommodation and subsistence.
- WOMEX World Music Expo will take place in in Tampere, Finland, from 22nd to 26th October 2025.
Eligibility Criteria
- The delegate bursaries are available to musicians, managers and agents working in Northern Ireland and are aimed at those artists and promoters who have a track record of touring internationally, have excellent promotional material available (CDs, website etc) and who would benefit from attending the event to promote their work at this particular music industry marketplace. Only one delegate bursary will be awarded per group.
- Eligible applicants must also:
- Have contributed to artistic activities in Northern Ireland for a minimum period of 1 year within the last 5 years.
- Live 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 (ie. 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.)
- Be at least 18yrs old and not in secondary education.
- The Arts Council of Northern Ireland welcomes applications from the widest possible range of individuals, representing all categories under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
- They particularly welcome applications by disabled artists and by artists from the generally unionist community as applications from both these demographics are currently under-represented across our programmes aimed at individuals.
Ineligibility Criteria
- Applicants who are in breach of the conditions of any previous ACNI grant.
- Applicants who have been in receipt of an ACNI WOMEX bursary 3 times or more previously.
Assessment Criteria
- Applications will be assessed against two criteria:
- Contribution to the Sector;
- Potential for Skills/Career Development of the Proposal.
For more information, visit Arts Council of Northern Ireland.