Supporting artists

A recovery funding programme for Northern Irish creatives has been opened by Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI) and the Department for Communities.

ACNI Chief Executive Roisin McDonough said the £5m Creative Individuals Recovery Programme (CIRP) is designed to help creatives continue developing important skills.

It can help pay to create new work, hire facilities or equipment, improve professional skills or attend industry events.

Grants of up to £2,000 are available, with applications closing October 6.

“CIRP funding can help our creative individuals to positively contribute, as they did before the pandemic, to the significant cultural value of Northern Ireland as a great place to work, live and invest,“ McDonough said.

London’s Guildhall School of Music & Drama has been awarded £637,000 to distribute as scholarships over the next three years.

It’s one of the largest grants given by the Leverhulme Trust this year, second only to the £695,600 awarded to the Royal College of Music.

The Leverhulme Arts Scholarships will be split between undergraduate and postgraduate musicians, as well as students studying with Guildhall Young Artists.

Interim Principal Jonathan Vaughan said the school is “committed to aiming to ensure that no student faces financial barriers to studying with us”.

The school estimates it awards more than £3m of financial support each year, with 40% of students receiving some level of support.