The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts and Gaeltacht, Catherine Martin, has launched a new pilot grant scheme to help boost the night time economy in Ireland.
The ‘Night-Time Economy Support Scheme’ provides €2.6m in funding pubs, nightclubs, cafés and other suitable licenced/unlicensed premises to support the provision of entertainment during off-peak times.
The aim is to promote an increase in footfall in cities, towns and villages, as well as providing artists with paying gigs and customers with a more alternative, diverse and inclusive night-time offering.
Speaking today, Minister Martin said: “This scheme aims to attract people in our towns and cities later in the evening and night time by offering a range of cultural activities, in a variety of venues.
“It will also support businesses in trialling events during the earlier part of the week when it’s typically quieter with a view to developing a more long-term sustainable offering in the Night-Time Economy.”
She also said that the scheme will aim to provide opportunities for new and emerging music acts, by supporting smaller venues such as pubs and cafés to trial out new cultural activities and provide those much needed spaces and paying gigs to artists.
The guidelines for the scheme opened today and will be available until 1pm on Friday the 22nd of July or until the fund is exhausted.
Guidelines for the scheme are available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/34e09-the-night-time-economy-support-scheme-ntess-2022-guidelines/
Applications can be made for the scheme here: https://ntess.tcagsm.gov.ie/
