A NUMBER of Donegal musicians have received state funding under the Music Industry Stimulus Package, to support artists recording their music.
The total funding for the 2020 MISP of €1.7 million is covering support for 79 song-writing camps and 56 new album releases, as well as the 184 recording awards.
Lemoncello, a collaborative project of songwriter Laura Quirke and cellist Claire Kinsella, from Letterkenny, who were nominated as ‘Best Emerging Folk Act’ in the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards 2019 received €6,000 to support a song-writing camp.
Eve Belle was one of the successful applications for album release support. The young Gaoth Dobhair singer, songwriter received €5,000.
Four Donegal acts have been awarded a total of €22,000 to record singles, EPs and albums. They are: Manus Lunny (Braade) €6,000, Megan Nic Ruairí (Rannafast) €4,000, Murray Brothers (Falcarragh) €6,000 and Cathal O Currain (Gaoth Dobhair) €6,000 while Donal Lunny received €6,000.
The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin said the awards will enable artists to record their work in a year which has been very challenging for performers.
“The availability of music through recordings has become more important than ever and this support will enable listeners, nationally and internationally, to enjoy some of our finest musicians’ new work,” the Minister said.
In response to the phenomenal number of applications for the music support grants this year, Minister Martin has also revealed that she is “committed to rolling out more measures in 2021 to help meet the significant demand for support for the music sector.”
The Music Industry Support Programme was set up by Minister Martin earlier this year, in an attempt to assist musicians, engineers, public relations, media, agents, labels and publishers – and to ensure that music can continue to reach a wide audience.
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)