“A NIGHT AT THE MANOR” featuring his 12 piece big band and guests including the legendary Paddy Cole and The Runaways was filmed at Palmerstown House Estate earlier this summer as part of the “At The Manor” outdoor festival series.
The show airs on Christmas Eve at 4pm on Virgin Media Three.
Minister Martin established the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce in 2020 as a response to the pandemic, and to provide a platform for solution-focused recommendations for the recovery of the arts and culture sector. The number one recommendation of the taskforce was the introduction of a basic income for the arts pilot scheme.
Minister Martin added: “€25m has been allocated to pilot a basic income scheme for artists, which is a fundamental priority for me and my department. I am determined to ensure that permanent damage is not done to the arts sector from the pandemic and that the Basic Income pilot scheme is in fact part of the response to ensure the arts in Ireland come back stronger than ever.”
Clare Duignan, Chair of the Taskforce said: “The survival, recovery and sustainability of this sector is dependent on economic policy and decision-making in the short and long term. Taskforce members unanimously agreed that the establishment of a pilot basic income scheme in the arts, culture, audiovisual and live performance and events sector was our top priority. I am really pleased to be part of today’s presentation of a draft proposal for a Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) scheme to sectoral stakeholders. This scheme has the potential to be genuinely transformative in terms of the sustainability of the sector.”
The purpose of today’s stakeholder forum is to ensure that artists and those working in the arts and culture sector have the opportunity to input into the policy development for the pilot scheme and to offer suggestions from their experiences as artists, arts workers and members of resource organisations on key issues such as the schemes objectives, eligibility criteria, supporting developing artists and participant responsibilities.
Nearly 200 representatives are expected to attend today, from over 50 different organisations which represent artists and arts workers across the sector.
Minister Martin concluded: “This Forum will inform the pilot scheme through hearing the lived experience of artists and creatives and understanding what a basic income might mean to them and their creative practice. Today’s discussions will feed into the ongoing policy development and it’s very important to me that the voices and views of the arts sector are heard and taken on board as much as possible in the pilot scheme, when it launches early next year.”
The Basic Income for the Arts Pilot Scheme will be launched in Q1 of 2022. Further details, including a policy paper, will be published on the department’s website after the feedback and input from the Forum is assessed and finalised.
This process has involved broad engagement with government stakeholders, an examination of the international context and sectoral data. Stakeholder engagement is central to this process and the department has prepared a consultation paper which will form the basis for today’s forum. It sets out objectives, eligibility criteria and performance requirements which will apply to the pilot scheme along with questions for consideration by stakeholders.
Inputs will be sought from stakeholders in two phases:
Phase 1: Stakeholder Forum
Stakeholders input will be collected and collated by the facilitator and this data will form part of the department’s development of the pilot scheme. Participants will also be provided with an opportunity to provide further written submissions directly to the department at a later stage.
Phase 2: Online Public Consultation
Recognising the limitations of the stakeholder forum, the department intends to commence an online public consultation in early January, to gather further data. For equity, the public consultation will follow the same approach as the Stakeholder forum, with the publication of the consultation paper and a request that submissions respond to those same core questions relating to the objectives, eligibility criteria, performance requirements.
Representative Organisations attending the BIA Forum
Entries are now open for The Ivors with Apple Music, to honour British and Irish songwriters and screen composers, across seven categories:
• The Rising Star Award with Apple Music
• Best Album
• Best Contemporary Song
• Best Song Musically and Lyrically
• Best Original Film Score
• Best Original Video Game Score
• Best Television Soundtrack
How to enter:
Entries are open until Friday 21st January.
The fee to enter the six song, score and album categories is waived if one of the songwriters or screen composers is a member of The Ivors Academy.
About The Rising Star Award with Apple Music
The Award recognises and supports 18-24 year old British and Irish songwriters with exceptional potential and ambition. The winner will be presented with a dedicated Ivor Novello Award at The Ivors and join a roll call of songwriting greats that includes Adele, Stormzy, Cathy Dennis, Annie Lennox, Sir Paul McCartney, John Lennon and Joan Armatrading.
Each nominee will receive a year-long mentorship from a well-established Academy member and leaders from Apple Music.
To enter and for the eligibility criteria, rules and guidelines visit: https://ivorsacademy.secure-platform.com/a
This course presents an innovative and contemporary approach to educating and equipping composers for scoring the visual medium through lectures from industry professionals, one-to-one mentoring, musician workshops and live recording sessions.
Taking place from July 3rd – 26th 2022 in Athens, Greece, this resident based programme will be hosted by Emmy award-winning composer Richard Bellis and features guest lecturers; Garry Schyman (composer of the Bioshock game), Miriam Cutler (composer of the documentary RGB), Jeff Atmajian (orchestrator of the film Joker), and George Christopoulos from Oticons Film Music Agency. The three and a half week course will consist of:
The intensive program will present and provide learners with the practical, creative, conceptual ideas and fundamental techniques of successfully composing a score for the screen. It explores the workflows of the media composer, communicating narrative through music, working under budgetary constraints, contracts and music business, and producing professional portfolio works.
This program is the perfect starting point for musicians and composers who want to explore composing for film, game, TV and other visual media. With a dedicated staff of lecturers and tutors ready to pass on their expertise, Screen Composer Academy ‘s summer program is the perfect place to take a step towards a career in one of the most exciting and innovative industries.
“ This is a wonderful opportunity for aspiring and early career composers to gain experience and knowledge from some of the best composers in the industry. Our course differs in that we aim to provide one-to-one tutoring and mentoring to students in addition to lectures to help meet their individual needs. Students will not only gain the skills necessary to score the visual medium, but also be guided in the music business and networking aspects of the profession. In addition to the learning experience, each composer will be introduced to the fundamentals of hybrid scores and leave with a professional portfolio piece.” Natasa Paulberg and Vasilis Milesis, Executive Directors
For full details visit: www.screencomposeracademy.com
Minding Creative Minds’ (MCM) in association with The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, EPIC Working Group, Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO), Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA), MCD Productions and The Cowshed will hold its December online meet and greet session on Monday 20th December at 7pm.
As with all the other sessions throughout the year, there is no charge attend but to access this meeting you need to register and you can do this by clicking on this link; https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwkc-qrpz8sEtKpdN3vCSVWpHD3mVguKy5r
The agenda for these online meet and greet sessions is simple; to share experiences and advice with each other; to have conversations with peers and creative sector colleagues.
“As we prepare for our December meet up, I would like to thank those who joined us at any of our online monthly meet ups this last year and for helping us spread our message. Our message is simple, regardless of your job in the sector; whether you are a stage performer or if you work in a support role; you are in the Irish Creative sector and our services are available to you. We offer a wide range of support services from mental health support and counselling to advice on practical issues (legal, financial, life coaching, career advice, administrative questions around your business if you are self-employed and much more); our focus is to support you, the entire individual. In addition, no issue is too trivial, you do not need to be in a crisis situation to contact us. If you have anything on your mind whatsoever, contact us and let us help you. Our services are free to use and confidential. So, if you have considered contacting us, but didn’t please follow through. We want to help. We all look forward to meeting everyone on December 20th again; and hopefully to meeting in person at some point in the new year. Happy Christmas and stay safe” – Dave Reid, founder Minding Creative Minds.
Having recorded and toured with choral group Anúna for many years, releasing her debut solo album – Love So Kindly (2003, Universal London) – spent considerable time working with Liam Lawton, and having even performed as a soloist in New York’s famed Carnegie Hall, Róisín O’ Reilly is about to step back into the spotlight. And this time, very much in her own right once again.
The Cavan-born singer – now living in Dublin – hopes the release of her new single, ‘Hush Be Still’, will prove to be a Christmas wish come true for Syrian refugee children. The record is a collaboration between Róisín and revered songwriter Brendan Graham, is released across all platforms today.
Recalling the first time he heard Róisín sing, Brendan said, “Back in the day, I had been at a concert in London, where Róisín had sung ‘Winter, Fire and Snow’ in an audience that included Maggie Thatcher, George Martin, Paco Pena, Hayley Westenra. Róisín completely stole the show and I had never forgotten the effect she had on an audience. So, when the opportunity to work with her again came about after hearing her sing at a funeral – well, it wasn’t even a decision to be made!”
The aim of ‘Hush Be Still’ is to follow on from the success of Róisín’s Christmas release last year, with her O Holy Night raising €49,500 to date for Syrian refugee children. “My wish for this year”, said Róisin, “is that ‘Hush Be Still’ will continue to raise funds that are much needed, and that we’ll reach our goal of €60,000.”
Those funds will be used to support the school for ‘street children’ in south Lebanon, established by Irish priest Father William Stuart. That school provides education for children displaced from their homeland by war, and who now live in the Tyre region of south Lebanon. The song was inspired by an experience Róisín had during Midnight Mass last Christmas Eve.
“At mass, instead of a homily the priest asked the congregation to follow a meditation. We were asked to close our eyes and were vividly led to the stable. I remember the pure stillness in the church. Having been in lockdown most of the year, the words of American poet Madeleine L’Engle’s ‘Into The Darkness’ came to mind, ‘…with no room on the earth, the stable is our heart.’ It was an intimate graced moment and I was lost in it. The memory of that night stayed with me and I knew I wanted to honour it with a song.”
Róisín features on six platinum-selling Irish albums – including one by Ronan Hardiman, composer of Lord of the Dance – and six multi-platinum albums released by the Universal label. She was working on a project with Brendan Graham – the pen behind hits like Eurovision winners Rock & ‘n’ Roll Kids and The Voice, and of course, You Raise Me Up – when she was planning ‘Hush Be Still’. “Brendan is a gifted writer. He captures the essence of a story beautifully so I knew he was the person to write this song with me.”
When the opportunity came about, Róisín asked Brendan to work with her on the song. He liked the idea behind it and agreed to collaborate.
“What intrigued me about Róisín’s idea was the potential to write what could be a straightforward lullaby to the Christchild…a Christmas carol…but a Christmas carol with a twist…a mystical twist. We all, to some extent, move between worlds, time shift in some mysterious, magical way…and the song seeks to explores this possibility – of being actually there, in the stable at Bethlehem on that first Christmas and yet being in the ‘now’ of this Christmas’’.
On that first Christmas Eve, YOU called out to me,
With a voice oh, so clear and so true..
And, I don’t know how, how I travelled from now,
To be with Mary there, holding you?
“The image on the single sleeve”, explained Róisín, “was specially chosen. It’s called ‘Be It Unto Me’ and is by the American artist Liz Lemon Swindle. It is the most beautiful painting I have seen of Mary and the infant Jesus so when the song was completed I contacted the American artist and asked her could I use this image because it so perfectly captures the essence of the song. I am very grateful to her that she agreed.”
“The aim for ‘Hush Be Still’ now”, asserts Róisín, “is that it will take our fundraising to the €60,000 milestone, please God.”
For more information, visit www.roisinoreilly.com
The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, has today (8 December) announced additional funding of €50m to support the Live Performance Sector. The supports are in response to the introduction of new restrictions on live performance capacities. The supports announced today for the sector include:
The Minister is examining how further supports can be provided to the broader events sector. A further extension of the Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme (MEBAS) which supports businesses in the music sector will be announced in January. This scheme has provided grant support to businesses to cover costs up to the end of December.
Minister Martin said: “The live entertainment sector has been asked to shoulder a heavy burden with these new restrictions. This is not where we wanted to be but the epidemiological situation is such that we must try to reduce socialisation to manage COVID-19 case numbers over the coming weeks. I know audiences are still seeking live performance experiences after venues were closed for so long and I do not want to see stages going dark in the coming weeks. LPSS 3 will provide venues with the flexibility to decide if they will proceed with their events or reschedule and keep artists and crew employed.”
Further details on all of the schemes, including guidelines and information on the application process, will be made available on the department’s website shortly.
The Minister added: “I am conscious of how important these pantomimes and seasonal musical theatre shows are for the businesses that stage them. I would like to see as many of these productions as possible continue even with 50% of the usual audiences. Families and children across the country look forward to these every year and it is important they go ahead now more than ever. I am committed to supporting the live performance and nightclub sector as they journey through a difficult and unprecedented phase of business operations. I know it takes many weeks and months to programme shows and tours. I am very pleased to announce the roll out of these schemes which aim to be as flexible and responsive as possible.”
Key Decision-Makers from the EU and Member States gather today to call for ambitious policies and financial support for CCIs, in a high-level conference titled “Rebuilding Europe with Culture – Where do we stand?”
Held under the auspices of electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre, the online event features the European Parliament President David Sassoli, European Commissioners Thierry Breton and Mariya Gabriel, Ministers from the current Slovenian and the forthcoming French Presidencies, Greek and Croatian Ministers, as well as MEPs Christian Ehler, Dace Melbarde, Iban Garcia del Blanco, Sabine Verheyen, and the Mayor of Warsaw, Rafal Trzaskowski. They are joined by experts from the cultural sector for this online gathering today, to exchange views and give their support for the “Rebuilding Europe with Culture” initiative.
Electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre said: “Crisis hit the cultural sector the hardest. Immediate and targeted support is critical for the sector, as it impacts all from most established artist to emerging talent. Pandemic accelerated digital transformation, while showing that our policy framework is not totally ready for it. To ensure prominence of European content and European values in digital market of today and metaverse of tomorrow, Europe needs to lead in setting the rules and principles for fairness, transparency and accountability.”
Gernot Graninger, the President of GESAC said: “The participation of high level European, national, and local decision-makers today and the huge support we have received for our parallel online campaign illustrate the general understanding that with targeted support and the necessary policy actions to revive cultural sector, we can rebuild Europe together. We’ll continue as GESAC to follow up on the implementation of recovery budgets, coordinated reopening of live events, transposition of the Copyright Directive and adoption of a more meaningful and more ambitious framework in DSA than what is currently on the table with this objective in mind.”
The event will focus on the Reopening of cultural venues and businesses, the Recovery of the sector and the Rebalancing of the digital market, at a time when EU legislators are working on critical files to bring more fairness to digital single market and the Member States are starting to implement their national recovery plans, while struggling with the new waves of the pandemic.
This high-level conference will exchange information and share views about the progress made so far for the recovery of cultural sector, report on the situation on the ground and present a vision for the future. It will also allow to follow-up on whether culture gets what it deserves from this historic recovery budget and if the economic and political promises so far have been translated into action.
The event is organised by GESAC (authorsocieties.eu), in cooperation with MEP Christian Ehler and Federation of European Book Publishers (FEP).
Date: 8 December 2021
Time: 1pm – 3pm GMT
Watch the conference here: https://www.rebuilding-europe.eu/conference
Beardfire Music Production Studio is offering 15% off recordings and mixing up until April 1st 2022 exclusively for IMRO members. In order to avail of the deal sessions must be booked in and secured with a deposit before January 1st 2022. When booking please mention this offer.
Beardfire is a music production studio and record label recording and producing professional, critically acclaimed music by the likes of All The Queen’s Horses (Winner International Songwriting Competition 2021, RTE Playlisted), Patricia Lalor (Atlantic Records), Leila Jane, William Franklyn Miller, RUNAH (Bonfire Records), Lauren Ann, Steph Sandor, Jordana Lilly, Lauran Beth, Michael T, Moylan, KTG, Kate Dineen, Chris Short, Denise Brennan, Rowlette, Ciaran Moran, Donal Clancy, Dori Freeman, Zoe Clarke, Kayli Sousa, Waters Edge (Katie & Aoife), Sam Hardiman, Gretchen Peters, Rachel Baiman, Weekend Special, Hera, CC Cooper, Leslie Dowdall (In Tua Nua), David Virgin and more.
Beardfire’s music production has featured in major Spotify playlists including New Music Friday (UK, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan), Dark and Stormy, Deep Dark Indie, Friday Crate Diggers, A New Eire, Breath of Fresh Eire, An Alternative Eire. Major national and international radio airplay across hundreds of stations worldwide including the likes of RTE Radio 1, RTE 2fm, Spin, Today FM and multiple BBC stations.
Based in Dublin Ireland, Beardfire Music collectively possess over 5 decades of booking, touring, producing and performing experience in Ireland, Australia and across continental Europe.
To book, or for more info contact Rohan at beardfirepublishing@nullhotmail.com or call 0873349633
Visit the links below for samples of Beardfire’s work and more information:
Beardfire Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4c8wKO9uh5RyHypW2CUrEE
Beardfire Website: http://www.beardfire.com/
Beardfire on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beardfiremusic/
Beardfire on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeardfireMusic
Minding Creative Minds is Ireland’s first 24/7 wellbeing support programme for the entire Irish creative sector.
Over the 17 months since its launch in 2020, Minding Creative Minds has facilitated in the region of 1,000 hours of support across three areas;
1. In the moment support;
2. Service sessions advice (legal, financial, career etc.) and
3. Support counselling sessions.
“The music business has never been an easy path to follow, but the last 19 months have been more challenging than any of us could ever have imagined. The stresses and strains of Covid 19 have been acutely felt by the arts sector who are still not fully back to work. Throughout this time Minding Creative Minds has been providing an invaluable resource, providing support 24 hours a day 7 days a week to the entire arts community. They are there to lend a listening ear no matter how big or small the problem.” – Eleanor McEvoy, IMRO Chairperson
The initiative, which had been in planning since 2018 by Choice Music Prize co-founder, artist manager and psychotherapy graduate Dave Reid, was launched during the summer of 2020. Initially, Minding Creative Minds services were open to the music sector only; including artists, artist managers, support staff and live music events staff, however, as a direct result of additional funding within six months the organisation’s services were opened up to the entire creative sector; almost one year ahead of schedule.
“I was delighted to provide funding to support the valuable work of Minding Creative Minds in 2021. Given the difficulties faced by the arts and culture sectors during the pandemic this initiative has been an important intervention to support wellbeing in the creative community. Throughout 2021 Minding Creative Minds have continued to develop and expand their support for the Irish Creative Sector both home and abroad and I would like to congratulate them on the valuable services they provide. Covid continues to present a major challenge to the arts and culture sector and this uncertainty is very difficult to deal with and Minding Creative Minds is a key support for creatives at this challenging time.” The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media, Catherine Martin T.D.
“Our message is simple, with a few key guide markers; 1. Minding Creative Minds was established specifically for our creative sector, for its people, for our needs. Regardless of your job in the sector; whether you are a stage performer or if you work in a support role; you are in the Irish Creative sector and our services are available to you. 2. We offer a wide range of support services from mental health support and counselling to advice on practical issues (legal, financial, life coaching, career advice, administrative questions around your business if you are self-employed and much more); our focus is to support the entire individual. 3. It is hugely important to us that our colleagues and peers in our sector truly believe no issue is too trivial. You do not need to be in a crisis situation to contact us. You will hear us say and write this quite a lot! If you have anything on your mind whatsoever, contact us and let us help you. Our services are free to the user and confidential. So, if you have considered contacting us, but didn’t please follow through. We want to help.” Minding Creative Minds founder, Dave Reid
Minding Creative Minds’ counselling services (in association with Spectrum Life) include: a 24/7 Dedicated Phone Line; Short-term intervention, telephone Counselling, secure video counselling and comprehensive web portal and app enabling live chat function with a counsellor.
| Who is contacting us? (Q3 2021) | |
| Music Sector (Musicians, Live Event Crew etc.) | 31.58% |
| Visual Art & Street Art: (visual artists / photographers etc.) | 24.56% |
| Film (Actors / writers / designers & film crew) | 21.05% |
| Literature / writers / poets / spoken word / comedians | 7.02% |
| Arts Centre Employees & Arts Venues | 5.26% |
| Theatre (Actors / producers / writers / designers / arts admin) | 3.51% |
| Performance Artists / Circus Performers | 3.51% |
| Journalists / TV Personnel covering the arts | 1.75% |
| Dance (artists & arts administrators) | 1.75% |
“Whatever it is you are dealing with, you can contact the service and speak with one of our case managers and if you need to be referred on to counselling, you will be referred to counselling. It doesn’t need to be a crisis. You don’t have to be at breaking point for you to need to contact us. It’s really about you; something has changed in my life. I’m having to deal with things differently. I became a parent, I had a promotion in my job. When change happens, our brains are wired to experience stress, so this can be the time in which you contact us. We know that once somebody contacts the service, it’s life changing. It’s incredibly life changing for that person, for that person’s family, for that person’s friends” – Dr. Emelina Ellis, Clinical Excellence Lead
Since its launch just over twelve months ago, Minding Creative Minds has consistently invited feedback on its service offering while also encouraging suggestions for new services and events. The Irish Creative Sector employs some 55,000 people across the country and we want our users; our creative sector peers and colleagues to help us set our agenda and our objectives of the future. This ongoing feedback is helping us perfect our current services. It is our service, we help shape it. The core Minding Creative Minds team is a small team, so we openly ask our friends, colleagues and peers within our creative sector to help spread our word, this being; our services exists for all of us, we are here and want to help; our services are confidential and free to use. No issue is too trivial, so let us help you.
Visit: mindingcreativeminds.ie
