The COVID-19 crisis has rapidly changed how artists present their work and reach audiences. As artists have largely turned to online presentation, FACEBOOK Ireland with Culture Ireland, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht have come together to support and present live presentations by Irish artists (in English or Irish) to ensure that the arts continue to be enjoyed online – #IrelandPerforms.
The scheme
was announced today (Friday 3 April) by Josepha Madigan, T.D., Minister for
Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
This grant
scheme to support professional artists and enable the live presentation of
their work on online platforms is being made available from 3 April for an
initial period of 4 weeks. Funding of €100,000 is being made available on a
match funded basis by FACEBOOK Ireland and Culture Ireland, a division of the
Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. All successful artists will
be awarded €1,000. The scheme will be managed by Culture Ireland in conjunction
with First Music Contact and Poetry Ireland in association with RTÉ.
Full details of the scheme are available here and an application form is available here.
Application forms should be forwarded to showcases@nullcultureireland.gov.ie
Applications
will be accepted on a rolling basis and while the scheme is open to all,
special consideration will be given to artists whose work was scheduled for
public presentation internationally or in Ireland and has been cancelled owing
to the crisis.
Artists
will be streamed through FACEBOOK Live and other social media platforms using
the hashtag #IrelandPerforms and distributed as widely as possible through
Instagram and Facebook Pages, including those of Culture Ireland, Department of
Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, First Music Contact and Poetry Ireland.