Arts Council NI - Music Touring Programme

Overview

In offering this programme, the Arts Council aims to do the following:

• Promote quality jazz, world, chamber and contemporary music which tours to a minimum of 3 venues outside the company’s administrative base.
• Advance collaborative audience development projects with Audiences NI and venues in Northern Ireland.
• Develop audiences for music in Northern Ireland.
• Strengthen relationships between those involved in artistic, audience and programme development on both the supply (artists, producers) and demand (promoters, audiences) sides of touring.
• Engage in active advocacy for specialist providers and promoters with local authorities and venues to ensure a fully rounded, high-quality programme of musical performance across NI.

Who can apply?

• Organisations with expertise in under-represented genres such as jazz, world music, chamber music and contemporary music
• Registered charities and other organisations which cannot distribute profits may apply for funds
• Local Authorities
• Commercial organisations can only apply for support if the project is primarily for the benefit of the public rather than their own commercial interests
• If your organisation has a limited membership, or is a school, college or university, you must show that the project will benefit the wider public
• Public sector agencies for projects which are outside their statutory remit
• Groups of organisations (consortia) working together to deliver specific projects
• Organisations currently in receipt of any other Arts Council revenue or Lottery grant must demonstrate that the costs are additional to any programme already funded

How much money is available?

The total budget available is £50,000. It is unlikely that any grant will exceed £25,000. You should be realistic in your expectations and budgets.

Premium Payment

A payment of up to £3,000 is available for successful applicants who can clearly demonstrate that additional costs are associated with the delivery of their project for people with particular needs as defined under Section 75 of The Northern Ireland Act 1998.

How much partnership funding do you need?

The minimum partnership funding you need to find from non-Lottery, non-Arts Council sources is 10%, half of which, (ie 5% of the total project costs), must be in cash. However, the assessment process takes into account the other funds you are able to bring to the project and this will influence the outcome of the assessment.

Funding Criteria

They will assess your project against the following criteria:

Criterion 1: Public benefit

Criterion 2: Quality of arts activities planned

Criterion 3: Organisational and project viability, including how you have managed previous projects

Your project must meet all the above criteria.