Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin TD has announced the successful applicants of the €4 million in funding to assist off-peak entertainment in Ireland’s towns and cities.
Details
A total of 433 organisations have been offered funding from the Night-Time Economy Support Scheme. Applications were received from a wide range of venues, including pubs, nightclubs, cafes, theatres, arts centres, galleries, museums, and retail outlets.
There was a high level of interest in this pilot scheme, with over 470 creative and diverse applications submitted for consideration, reflecting the willingness of the night-time economy sector to be innovative and creative in their offerings. Well in excess of 2,000 events in every county across the country have been approved for funding. They include live music – ranging from traditional music to electronic music – DJ nights, theatre, comedy, dance, literature, art, and photographic exhibitions.
The scheme included a specific strand of funding for unlicensed premises, such as cafes, dry bars, and other suitable venues, to support diversification and inclusivity in Ireland’s night-time economy. Cafes and unlicensed premises have been awarded over €434,000 in funding.
Venues in rural towns and villages were also supported, and funding was awarded to 252 venues outside of our cities.
The fund has been an important source of employment for artists and performers across the country, with thousands of employment days generated by this scheme.
Statement By Minister Martin
Minister Martin said, “A vibrant, diverse and inclusive night-time economy is important for our towns and cities. It boosts the local economy [and] makes our towns and cities more attractive places to visit and to live in. There has been a great reaction from the night-time sector to this pilot scheme. It is also extremely important that we ensure that there is a balance between alcohol and alcohol-free activities, to ensure that a wider demographic can engage with the night-time economy, and it was also really encouraging to see the response from this sector.
“I recently announced that I secured €6 million as part of Budget 2023 to assist the night-time economy sector. I am currently considering the development of further initiatives, and we will continue to work with key stakeholders in the night-time economy to examine other opportunities to open up existing venues to more night-time economy activity.”
