Pubs can avail of €10k grant to boost Night-Time Economy
The entertainment/cultural events must be of a participative or performance nature and can include – but are not limited to – events such as live music including electronic music, comedy, dance, literature, poetry, theatrical productions, plays, craft and art/photographic exhibitions.
Pubs, nightclubs, cafés and other suitable licensed (and unlicensed) premises can avail of up to €10,000 each as part of the new €2.6 million Night-Time Economy Support Scheme to help in the provision of entertainment during off-peak times.
The grant aims to promote an increase in footfall in cities, towns and villages as well as provide artists with paying gigs and customers with a more alternative, diverse and inclusive night-time offering.
This initiative is in support of a recommendation contained in the Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce.
Among those eligible for the grant are “producers, promoters and venues, including nightclubs with an established track record in producing live arts/culture performances and which are advertised as such”.
The Minister stated that the initiative 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.
“I’ve also listened to the sector in relation to the lack of venues for artists and performers, especially new and emerging acts,” she continued, “This scheme will aim to provide those opportunities for new acts by supporting the smaller venues such as pubs and cafés to trial out new cultural activities and provide those much-needed spaces and paying gigs to artists.”
Earlier this year the Minister had stated, “Look at cities like Berlin, where culture thrives at all hours, where a city’s heartbeat doesn’t end at night or look at New York, Paris and Montreal. These cities don’t close. Their vibrancy continues well into the night. Those cities have built their reputations on this mix.”
Applications will be invited from the licensed trade via Strand A for pubs, restaurants and wine bars, nightclubs and other suitable licensed premises that operate in the Evening and Night-Time Economy who want to trial a series of events/cultural activities. A minimum of four events must be put on with a maximum grant of €10,000 available per application during off-peak times from Monday to Thursday (excluding weekends) from 6pm onwards.
The entertainment/cultural events must be of a participative or performance nature and can include – but are not limited to – events such as live music including electronic music, comedy, dance, literature, poetry, theatrical productions, plays, craft and art/photographic exhibitions.
The Night-Time Economy Support Scheme has been developed in consultation with representatives from the Night-Time Economy sector.
Applications for the Scheme will remain open until 1pm on Friday the 22nd of July or until the fund is exhausted, whichever occurs first.
Applications can be made for the new scheme through the dedicated application website.
This initiative is in support of the recommendation in the Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce, namely Action 1: Create a Scheme in conjunction with LVA and VFI to provide artists with paying gigs and customers with entertainment.
