€104,577 in local funding under Live Performance Scheme

The Minister for Justice, Social Protection and Rural & Community Development Heather Humphreys welcomed the funding allocation.

More than €100,000 has been allocated to three projects in Cavan and Monaghan under Live Performance Support Scheme (LPSS) 2021.

The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, T.D. announced recipients of the €25 million funding which is aimed at assisting commercial venues, producers and promoters to plan live performances across the country over the summer months.

A total of 237 organisations are set to benefit from the scheme.

A sum of €52,892 has been allocated to Garry Construction in County Cavan for outdoor live events with multiple acts filmed for streaming in Loughcrew in Oldcastle.

The Westenra Arms Hotel in County Monaghan meanwhile will receive €31,735 for live entertainment from July to September.

Blessings Bar in County Cavan have also been allocated €19,950 for Blessfest, a local outdoor music festival celebrating the richness of Cavan Arts, Comedy and Music.

The Minister for Justice, Social Protection and Rural & Community Development welcomed the funding allocation.

“I am really pleased to welcome this funding by my colleague Minister Catherine Martin T.D.

“This funding will support a wide range of performances over the coming summer months.  I know this funding will assist in the employment of local performers, artists, technicians, creative and performance support staff across the sector, bringing much-needed employment to many who have not had work for many, many months”.

The LPSS scheme is part of a €50 million suite of measures to support the live entertainment sector and follows exceptional demand and very successful outcomes of the €5 million pilot Live Performance Support Scheme.

Developed in consultation with the sector, the main objective of this scheme is to provide significant employment and wellbeing opportunities across the live entertainment sector and will support the continued generation of high quality artistic output for the general public. The scheme aims to support live performances particularly where capacity for live attendance is restricted due to Covid-19, and where funding will make live performances viable or alternatively make them available online if audiences cannot attend due to restrictions.

There was a high level of interest in this scheme, with over 400 imaginative and diverse applications submitted for consideration, once again reflecting the resilient, talented and innovative nature of this sector.

The Department acknowledges and appreciates the work and effort that went into preparing these applications, however given the volume of applications received, it was not possible to allocate funding to all eligible applicants.

Recipients of this funding range from small to large venues, producers and promoters, supporting live events in every county, including festivals, concerts, theatre productions, comedy and outdoor events.

The funding will facilitate the delivery of the full exciting programme of activities over the coming summer and autumn period.

The Department will support those in receipt of grants to ensure that funding flows to the performers and crew as early as possible.