£200,000 funding for Bands Scheme

The Musical Instruments for Bands Programme, which will be distributed through the Arts Council, is designed to make funding available for the purchase of musical instruments.

The Programme provided grants from £500 to £5,000 for the purchase of instruments to bands based in Northern Ireland which are formally constituted and who have not received a grant from the fund in the previous five years. It is generally accessed by the marching bands community.

The Minister said: “The marching bands sector is the largest community arts sector in Northern Ireland with well in excess of 20,000 participants. Our parading culture has been described as “Northern Ireland’s best kept secret” and the reinstatement of this funding for the purchase of musical instruments will be welcome news for those who participate in this important sector.

“These bands contribute to our society not just musically, but providing structure, discipline.”