Max HeyraudThe Irish government has announced a new round of funding for grassroots music venues as part of its Night-Time Economy Support Scheme. Minister Patrick O’Donovan has announced €500,000 in funding for small, independent venues that act as incubators for upcoming artists and DJs.
The Grassroots Music Venue Support Scheme (GMVSS) allows eligible venues to apply for grants of up to €15,000 to help cover the costs of live music programming. This funding can be used for artist fees, production costs, crew wages, public relations, ticketing, equipment rentals, security, and event insurance.
“Grassroots music venues are an integral part of Ireland’s music ecosystem and are vital to our communities,” Minister O’Donovan stated at the launch event in Cleary’s, Newcastle West. “I want to support these venues so that they can provide opportunities for new and emerging artists to perform, develop their skills, and grow their audiences. Many of the big acts we see today in large arenas began their careers performing in smaller venues.”
The scheme is designed to strengthen Ireland’s night-time economy while ensuring fair pay for artists and freelance crew. The initiative was developed in consultation with representatives from the Live Venue Collective, Give Us The Night, and the Night-Time Economy Advisors.
You can apply here.
Photo Credits: Simon Cunningham
