Communities Minister Lyons launches Musical Instruments Programme
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has announced a major funding boost for individuals, bands and groups across Northern Ireland, with the launch of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s 2025/26 Musical Instruments Programme.
The programme is open to professional and non-professional performing musicians and groups who can apply for a share of the £750,000 funding pot to purchase new musical instruments and replace old ones.
Minister Lyons said: “I am pleased to announce the launch of this year’s Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Musical Instruments Programme.
“Through the financial support provided by my Department, I am committed to increasing the quality of music-making in Northern Ireland and would encourage musicians, bands and groups to make an application.
“We can all appreciate the importance of music and how it contributes to, and enriches, our cultural experiences.”
The Musical Instruments Programme is designed to help musicians in Northern Ireland replace their old, worn-out instruments and purchase new ones.
A total of 119 grants were awarded through the Programme last year, which saw 75 bands, 13 professional and non-professional performing groups and 31 professional musicians receive funding.
Roisin McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said: “With much appreciated capital investment from the Department for Communities, the Arts Council is delighted to announce the opening of the Musical Instruments Programme 2025/26.
“This valuable scheme offers bands, musical groups, schools and professional musicians the opportunity to buy new instruments, helping to increase skills for all players, from young musicians just starting out, right through to highly trained performers.
“Applications are now open on the Arts Council of Northern Ireland website, with grants available across three tailored programmes.”
The Musical Instruments Programme includes three strands:
- The Bands strand of the programme was created to support bands based in Northern Ireland, which are formally constituted, including accordion, brass, flute, pipe, wind and concert bands.
- The Professional and Non-Professional Performing Groups category was open to choirs and orchestras, community music groups, musical societies, primary and post-primary schools and youth groups.
- The third strand is for Individual Professional Musicians.
Further information about Musical Instruments Programme – Musical Instruments for Individuals is available from:
https://artscouncil-ni.org/funding/funding-for-individuals
Further information about Musical Instruments Programme – Musical Instruments for Bands and Musical Instruments for Professional and Non-Professional Performing Groups is available from:
https://artscouncil-ni.org/funding/funding-for-organisations
