WOMEX 24 delegate bursaries now open for applications

This will be the tenth occasion of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s attendance at WOMEX which has fast become the most important international professional market for world music of every kind including folk, roots, ethnic and traditional music. The five-day event attracts over 2,500 delegates from over 90 countries, including hundreds of concert and festival bookers, labels, publishers, distributors, managers, and the world's media.

This year, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland will host a combined stand located within the Horizons section of WOMEX. Horizons is an initiative to collectively promote the music of nations of the UK & Ireland at WOMEX. The Horizons partners are Arts Council England, British Underground, Arts Council of Ireland, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Culture Ireland, Creative Scotland, Scottish Music Industry Association, Arts Council of Wales, Cerdd Cymru: Music Wales, Wales Arts International, UK Trade & Investment. Selected delegates will participate in the national stand to promote their work to international arts industry presenters and promoters.

Ciaran Scullion, Head of Music and Opera, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, commented, 

“The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is delighted to supports artists from Northern Ireland to attend WOMEX, thanks to The National Lottery players. This funding is a game changer in enabling artists to network and promote their work to music industry professionals and promoters from across the world at Womex. Successful delegates will also receive the full backing of Horizons who will be attending WOMEX to promote artists from across Ireland and the UK. I would encourage those interested to apply soon.”

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland will offer a maximum of up to four bursary awards for WOMEX 2024 (subject to available budget). The award is worth £600 per delegate and will support the costs of registration for the conference, return flights and a contribution towards accommodation and subsistence.

The delegate bursaries are available to musicians, managers and agents working in Northern Ireland and are aimed at those artists and promoters who have a track record of touring internationally, have excellent promotional material available (CDs, website etc) and who would benefit from attending the event to promote their work at this particular music industry marketplace. Only one delegate bursary will be awarded per group.

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland welcomes applications from the widest possible range of individuals, representing all categories under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. We particularly welcome applications by disabled artists and by artists from the generally unionist community as applications from both these demographics are currently under-represented across our programmes aimed at individuals.

Applicants who have been in receipt of an ACNI WOMEX bursary 3 times or more previously are not eligible to apply.

The Horizons partners offer support for delegates including:

• Priority use of a high-profile, centrally-located Horizons stand
• An online profile and printed directory helping Horizons at WOMEX delegates connect
• An online toolkit with news, beginners guide, ongoing support and advice for delegates and artists
• A newsletter with updates on the event
• Dedicated first-timers orientation and in-festival networking events

To read the full guidance notes and make an application visit https://artscouncil-ni.org/funding-for-individuals/womex-2024-bursaries

The deadline for applications is 12 noon on Tuesday 16 July 2024 with decisions expected on 31 July.