Louth arts venues invited to apply for new €300,000 piano award

Louth arts venues and music presenters are being invited to apply for the Music Capital Scheme Piano Award, which opens today and offers up to €300,000 to support the purchase or refurbishment of concert standard grand pianos. The award, managed by Music Network in partnership with the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, aims to strengthen live music programming in venues across Ireland, including in Louth, helping local audiences enjoy performances while supporting professional musicians.

Last October, Patrick O'Donovan T.D., Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, confirmed a total investment of €1,939,700 for the Music Capital Scheme 2025 which has been supporting the purchase of musical instruments for both individual professional musicians and non-professional performing groups for the past 17 years. 

The scheme’s impact has increased significantly in recent years and was expanded in 2024 to include two new awards that benefit both emerging professional musicians and arts venues - award 4, which provides quality string instruments on loan to emerging classical players and award 5, supporting arts venues and music presenters to purchase or refurbish concert standard grand pianos. 

Award 5, The Piano Award is open to organisations that provide a year–round, high quality music programme, support the work of professional musicians and have a strong track record in audience and community engagement. A total fund of €300,000 is available through the award, and applications to purchase new or second-hand pianos in addition to refurbishment of pianos can be supported through the scheme.   

Applicants wishing to acquire a concert standard grand piano can apply for up to 75% of the purchase cost. The scheme welcomes applications relating to all high-quality brands (for example Steinway, Yamaha, Kawai), both new and second-hand, any refurbishment costs required to bring a second-hand instrument being purchased up to concert standard can be included in addition to the instrument purchase price. Applicants wishing to refurbish a grand piano can apply for up to 70% of the cost of refurbishment, unless the refurbishment cost is €15,000 or less, in which case the percentage will reduce to 50%.  

The awardees in the inaugural round of the Piano Award, under the Music Capital Scheme 2024, were: 

• Cork Opera House in Cork city awarded €75,000 towards the purchase of a second-hand Steinway Model B piano. 
• The Irish Institute of Music and Song awarded €74,600 towards the purchase of a second-hand Steinway Model B piano for The Lark Concert Hall in Balbriggan, Dublin. 
• Siamsa Tíre in Tralee, Kerry awarded €29,400 towards the refurbishment of their grand piano 
• The Pavilion Theatre in Dún Laoghaire, Dublin awarded €5,900 towards the refurbishment of their grand piano. 

Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O'Donovan T.D. said: “I’m very pleased that we have been able to establish this important strand of the Music Capital Scheme, which will ensure that music venues are equipped with world class instruments. The Piano Award represents a significant step forward in supporting high quality live music performance nationwide, which will benefit both musicians and audiences alike.  I would like to thank Music Network for the outstanding work they do in supporting live music across Ireland.”  

Established in 2008 by The Arts Council, the Music Capital Scheme is funded by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and managed by Music Network. Since it was established, the scheme has made 657 awards to individual musicians and organisations, providing access to instruments for over 59,000 people across the country. Beneficiaries range from early years to mature players including musicians with physical and intellectual disabilities. 227 performing groups have been able to purchase instruments and expand their memberships, and 263 professional established and emerging musicians have advanced their performance careers with instruments enabled by the scheme. 

Pat Moylan, Chair of Music Network commented: “We would like to express our deep gratitude to the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, for its ongoing commitment to providing vital funding for musical instruments to both groups and individual musicians working in any genre. This investment is having a transformative effect on Ireland’s musical landscape, in many different settings.” 

Speaking about the award Music Network CEO Sharon Rollston said: “We are particularly excited to have the opportunity to offer The Piano Award again, which expands artistic possibilities for professional musicians, venues and music promoters across the country. 

Environmental sustainability is a key consideration for Music Network, so the award has been designed to allow applicants flexibility in their approach to addressing their piano requirements, whether in overhauling existing instruments or sourcing high quality second-hand pianos, or considering new purchases. We hope this round of funding will provide more opportunities for the responsible sourcing of instruments, in addition to supporting artistic development throughout Ireland for the long term.” 

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Applications for the latest round of the Music Capital Scheme Piano Award are now invited. Applications close on Thursday 2 April 2026 at 2pm. 

There will be an online information session for applicants on Tuesday 3 March at 11am. Register here to take part in the information session.  

Applications can be made online at musicnetwork.ie. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an online interview in April/May 2026.  

More information about the awards, guidelines and application forms are available on www.musicnetwork.ie