Irish Instrument Loan Initiative Receives €1 Million Investment from Government

Ireland's new Music Network National Musical Instrument Collection will loan five fine instruments to emerging players

Ireland's Music Capital Scheme was first established 16 years ago, and since that time it has been supporting both individual professional musicians and non-professional performing groups to purchase new instruments.

However, the scheme has recently had a significant boost: Catherine Martin, the country's Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, announced that the Irish government will invest the sum of €1,090,700 to facilitate the scheme's expansion.

The funding has allowed the creation of a new Music Network National Musical Instrument Collection, which will focus on lending high-quality string instruments to emerging professionals. Exceptional players can apply for the three-year loan of an instrument, as well as a €5,000 grant towards the purchase of a new bow — which they can retain permanently.

The five instruments available for loan are as follows:

• Violin: Gand & Bernardel Frères (1880)
• Violin: Stephan von Baehr (2007)
• Violin: Alexandre Valois (2024)
• Viola: Charles John Wilkinson (1930)
• The O’Neill Cello & Bow: Conor Russell cello (2015), Robert Pierce bow (2016)

Irish citizens and residents over the age of 18, who are in the final year of degree study or in the first three years after the completion of their degree, may apply for the scheme. Applicants should submit a CV, three recordings, and two letters of recommendation; more details are available here. The deadline is October 30, 2024.

"Since it was established in 2008, the Music Capital Scheme has made 544 awards to individual musicians and organisations, providing access to instruments for over 51,000 people across the country," said Catherine Martin. "Beneficiaries range from early years to mature players, including musicians with physical and intellectual disabilities."

"This new initiative is designed to address the unique challenges faced by emerging professional classical string players in the early stages of a professional performance career. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Music Network for the outstanding work they do which has a significant impact on the quality of, and access to, music-making and live music performance throughout Ireland."