Arts Council NI: Musical Instruments for Professional and non-Professional Performing Groups

Overview

Funding Priorities

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

Who can apply?

The Arts Council welcomes applications from the widest possible range of organisations and in particular from applicants whose projects benefit individuals categorised under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. In addition, in order to be eligible to apply to this programme, please note the following:

• 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 who regularly 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 regularly oversee / 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*

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

How much funding is available?

Please keep in mind that the amount of money available is limited and demand for funds is likely to be extremely high. It is not usually possible to fund all applications which simply meet the criteria or to fund the entirety of any given request.

They will aim to distribute funds as widely as possible and will take account in the assessment of your application, the level of support you have previously received or are currently receiving, as well as your organisation’s management of any previous grants.

• You should be realistic in your expectations and budgets and bear in mind that the Council may choose to fund specific elements of your proposal rather than the full request.
• You may apply for a maximum grant of £30,000;
• You will need to provide at least 2 quotations for each requested item of equipment which state the delivery date (no later than 14th March 2025) or 3 quotations if the value of the item is above £5,000
• If you are requesting more than one of any given items of equipment, only one set of quotations is necessary. For example, if you request 3 identical flutes which each cost £1,000 you only need to upload 2 quotations in relation to this; you do not have to upload 2 separate quotations for each of the 3 flutes.
• They will not pay VAT on any expenditure incurred by VAT registered organisations with the ability to reclaim VAT costs.
• The grant will be paid in 2 stages
• Once awarded, grants cannot be increased.

How much partnership funding do you need?

All applicants must provide partnership funding. The minimum partnership funding provided by you must be 10% in cash (as opposed to in kind) from non-Arts Council sources.

• Applicants must demonstrate how the remaining 10% will be funded.
• The 10% cannot be wholly or partly comprised of a discount from instrument suppliers.
• The Arts Council will only fund a maximum of 90% of the total costs of the instruments you are seeking to purchase.

For all applicants, the assessment process may take into account the other funds you are able to bring to the project and this may influence the outcome of the assessment.

What Can You Apply For?

In addition to musical instruments, the following items are eligible:

• Bows
• Instrument cases
• PA Systems
• Drum heads
• Instrument leads
• Reeds
• Drum sticks / brushes
• Instrument maintenance
• Shoulder rests
• Effects pedals
• Instrument stands
• Specialist stools where necessary
• Electro-acoustic equipment
• Microphones
• Straps
• Instrument amplifiers
• Mutes
• Metronomes
• iPads and Laptops* *PLEASE NOTE : Requests for laptops or iPads must clearly demonstrate that the items use will be in relation to musical practice / tuition.
• Recording equipment
• Tuners
• Music stands