Yesterday a new pilot scheme was announced by Music Network (supported by the Arts Council and the IRMA Trust) that will enable the purchase of instruments and renting of rehearsal spaces. Full application details can be downloaded from Music Network:

The Arts Council, The IRMA Trust and Music Network are pleased to announce new supports for capital investment in music in 2008. The Music Capital Scheme is a three-year pilot project that is part of a research initiative seeking to analyse the needs for support for capital investment in music as well as the optimum ways of providing this support.

In 2008, the first year of the project, financial support will be offered in three distinct streams that will run concurrently:

• Stream 1: Instrument Banks – support for the purchase of instruments for non-professional groups/ensembles such as brass and silver bands, concert bands, symphonic wind ensembles, pipe bands, céilí bands, youth/amateur orchestras and ensembles, fife and drum (and other marching) bands, big bands, community music groups, percussion and samba groups, pop/rock music collectives, traditional music groups/organisations, choirs, other non-professional groups/ensembles
• Stream 2: Individual Instruments – support for the purchase of high quality musical instruments for highly skilled individual performers playing at a professional level
• Stream 3: Rehearsal Equipment – (Funded by once-off donation from The IRMA Trust) support for the equipping of dedicated rehearsal facilities for youth bands in conjunction with local authorities, venues, youth agencies and/or other organisations