Music / March 9, 2021

€50 million worth of support revealed for Irish live music industry

Photo by Edward Cisneros on Unsplash
Music / March 9, 2021

€50 million worth of support revealed for Irish live music industry

Words: Staff Writer


Today, Minister Catherine Martin shared news of €50m worth of support to the Live Performance Sector

The key figures:

·      €25m new Live Performance Support Scheme

·      €14m new support scheme for live entertainment businesses

·      €5m to local authorities for outdoor live performances

·      €5m capital supports for live entertainment sector

·      €1m to St. Patrick’s Festival

Following the success of 2020’s pilot for the Live Performance Support Scheme, a fund of €25m has been allocated for the scheme in 2021. This will result in more opportunities for live performances and therefore more job opportunities for those in the live performance sector.

The key features of the LPSS are:

  • Support to install live streaming equipment.
  • Support for live performances that will commence on or before September 30.
  • Support the creation of employment and wellbeing opportunities in the culture and creative industries and the generation of high quality artistic output.
  • Scheme is aimed at commercial venues, producers and promoters in the culture sector (e.g. music, entertainment and theatre).
  • Awards from this scheme will range from €10k upwards.

The Live Performance Support Scheme 2021 will be open for applications from 19 March 2021 until Wednesday 14 April. Further information can be found here.

Furthermore, Minister Martin announced €14m for a new scheme to make a contribution to the overheads of businesses that have been significantly negatively affected by COVID-19 and that do not qualify for other business supports. 

The Music Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme (MEBAS) will see support offered by way of two levels of flat payments:

  •  €2,500 for businesses with a VAT-exclusive turnover of €20,000 – €100,000.
  • €5,000 for businesses with a VAT-exclusive turnover in excess of €100,000.

Self-employed businesses whether sole traders, partnerships and incorporated entities operating exclusively within the commercial live entertainment sector are eligible to apply. The scheme is expected to open next month.

Health considerations permitting, €5m will be allocated to local authorities to facilitate programming of outdoor live performances in summer 2021. Performances can be recorded or streamed if health restrictions prevent live events.  Local authorities will be encouraged to engage events companies to develop and deliver a programme of performances. 

A separate €5m will be available for a scheme of capital supports for the commercial live entertainment sector. This will be applied to supporting the installation of high quality recording and streaming facilities in venues through a competitive grant application process.

Lastly, as previously announced, up to €1 million has been allocated for the St. Patrick’s Festival 2021 to support the employment of performers, producers, artists, technicians, creatives and support staff.

In addition, the Minister announced today that she is establishing the Return to Live Entertainment Working Group to develop overarching Covid-19 sectoral guidance for the live entertainment sector. The establishment of this group addresses a recommendation of the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce.

Speaking on the news Minister Martin said:

“I am very pleased to announce the commencement of these schemes which will help support Ireland’s entertainment industry so they can weather the storm of ongoing closures due to the crisis.

“This range of measures will assist commercial venues, producers and promoters to do what they do best – make work for audiences – and provide a valuable asset to our society missing culture and entertainment. In addition, the new measures support the indispensable bed rock of our music industry assisting businesses, performers, musicians and crew.  

We as a nation need to continue to see and experience Irish art and this scheme will provide wellbeing benefits to both participants and members of the public through the high quality performances made available online in 2021.

I look forward to the roll out of these support schemes which will provide a much needed and vital support for the live performance sector.”