All of Northern Ireland is Playing Music

• music

All areas of Northern Ireland are benefitting from an increase in the quality of community music-making thanks to the Instruments for Bands Funding Programme according to the Arts Council. The programme helps bands to replace worn-out instruments and purchase new ones.

Commenting on the funding programme, Lorraine McDowell, Director of Operations with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said

"Helping bands to fund instruments is an excellent example of how the Arts Council encourages greater participation and enjoyment of the arts, at the heart of society and community.

Speaking about their award, Colin Ward from Skeogh Flute Band said

"The Instruments for Bands funding allowed us to buy us 17 new flutes and a piccolo.

Analysis of this funding programme, from its inception in 1995 shows that the Arts Council has funded bands right across the region, with 95% of funding going to areas outside Belfast.

The 2008 funding round closed in June 2008 and 41 bands from across NI, playing pipes, fife and drums, accordions, silver and flutes were awarded a total of £149,311 for 2008/2009.

From 1995 -2008, 327 awards have been made across NI, totaling £3,903,889. Within that, 18 (to a value of £209,611) have been awarded in Belfast.

www.artscouncil-ni.org