Irish Government Distributes €500,000 to Small Venues

The Government of Ireland has distributed its first round of €500,000 ($578,000) to the country’s grassroots venues.

The scheme:

• Announced earlier this year, venues could apply for a maximum of €15,000, and minimum of €5,000.

• Venues had to be 500-capacity or less, with an established reputation as a live music or dance venue, and grassroots music performance at the core of its programming.

• The initiative is designed to support these spaces and acknowledge the risk they take in programming and nurturing emerging original artists.

• It's also envisioned the funding will assist in providing employment for production staff and crew, as well as showcasing original musicians and electronic music artists.

The recipients:

• Out of 96 applications, 33 venues have been awarded funding.

• Sixteen of them are outside major cities.

What they said:

• Ireland’s Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan: “I look forward to seeing the diversity of genre and talent that will reach new audiences as a result of this funding over the months ahead.”