£750,000 Musical Instruments Programme now open for applications

Delivered by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the programme is open to individual musicians, professional and non-professional performing groups, and bands – including marching bands, brass bands, melody and concert bands.

The programme will distribute £750,000 in funding with the aim of increasing the quality of music-making within Northern Ireland and contributing to the Arts Council’s strategy to develop a more financially stable arts sector.

The Musical Instruments Programme is designed to help musicians in Northern Ireland replace their old, worn-out instruments and purchase new ones.

Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, commented: “This valuable investment programme offers bands, musical groups, schools and professional musicians the opportunity to buy new instruments, helping to increase skills for all players, from young musicians just starting out, right through to highly trained performers.

“I am delighted to say the Musical Instruments Programme scheme is now open online and we urge all interested to ensure your applications are with us before October 15th.”

The Musical Instruments Programme will have three strands, all with the same deadline of 12noon, Thursday 15 October 2026.

1. Musical Instruments for Bands

• Grants of up to £30,000 will be available. 
• This strand is designed to help bands replace worn–out instruments and purchase new ones.
• It is open to bands based in Northern Ireland which are formally constituted and includes accordion orchestras/bands (part, melody or marching); brass bands; concert bands; flute bands (part, melody or marching); pipe bands; wind bands.
• For more information go to: https://artscouncil-ni.org/funding-for-organisations/musical-instruments-for-bands

2. Musical Instruments for Professional and Non-Professional Performing Groups 

• Grants of up to £30,000 will be available.
• This strand is designed to provide support for the purchase of musical instruments by groups involved in the professional and non-professional performance of music.
• It is open to Amateur/Youth Orchestras and Ensembles; Choirs and Orchestras; Classical Ensembles; Community Music Groups; Musical Societies; Percussion / Samba Bands; Pop / Rock Ensembles; Traditional Ensembles.
• It is also open to community, youth, resource organisations, and schools who are regularly involved in music performance in the non-professional sector.
• All organisations must be formally constituted and operating as not-for-profit, that is, a voluntary or charitable body with its own separate bank account.
• For more information go to: https://artscouncil-ni.org/funding-for-organisations/musical-instruments-for-professional-and-non-professional-performing-groups

3. Musical Instruments for Individuals

• Grants of up to £10,000 will be available.
• This strand is designed to provide support for highly-skilled performing musicians based in Northern Ireland, working at a professional level, who seek support for the purchase of high-quality instruments that are central to their performing career.
• For more information go to: https://artscouncil-ni.org/funding-for-individuals/musical-instruments-for-individuals

For more information on all Arts Council funding programmes go to www.artscouncil-ni.org/funding