€3million donation set to allow major expansion of Music Generation!

22 November 2015: Music Generation is on course for further expansion, following the announcement by U2 and The Ireland Funds of major philanthropic donations of €2million and €1million respectively to the organisation.

In September of this year, U2 announced that €2million from their Irish concerts would be gifted to Music Generation, which provides access to high quality subsidised music tuition for thousands of children and young people across the country. A further €1million will be gifted by The Ireland Funds who, together with U2, seed-funded Music Generation’s first phase (2010 – 2015) with a €7m donation – the largest ever philanthropic donation to music education in Ireland in the history of the state.

U2’s The Edge said: “Five years in, Music Generation is continuing to grow. Thanks to The Ireland Funds for adding €1m to the €2m from our Irish shows, it'll bring us closer to achieving our ambition for every child and young person in Ireland to have access to music tuition.”

Kieran McLoughlin, President & CEO, The Worldwide Ireland Funds said, “We are thrilled to announce this additional gift of €1m to Music Generation. The impact of this innovative music education programme has been extraordinary and brings so much benefit to young people and communities throughout Ireland. The Ireland Funds is delighted to be supporting this flagship initiative and, together with U2, will also seek to raise additional support as part of our commitment to unlocking the musical talents of the next generation.”

Responding to this latest, unprecedented gift to music education in Ireland, Rosaleen Molloy, National Director of Music Generation said, “Music Generation would not exist without the vision and philanthropic support of U2 and The Ireland Funds. It is this vision that has enabled us to successfully implement this ground-breaking music education programme across 12 areas of the country, which now provides access for some 26,000 children and young people and creates employment opportunities some 330 people.”

“The reason why Music Generation has been such a success story is because of the partnership base that underpins how we work”, continued Rosaleen. “U2, The Ireland Funds, with the support of Bank of America, Music Network, the Department of Education and Skills and Local Music Education Partnerships together with the Arts Council and St. Patrick’s College Drumcondra are our key partners. Without their input and support Music Generation would not have been possible. The impact of the original €7m philanthropic donation from U2 and The Ireland Funds has been extraordinary. Every day, the lives of thousands of children and young people are being transformed through access to a variety of music tuition opportunities – everything from song-writing initiatives to brass bands, orchestras, choirs, rock groups, rap projects, grupaí cheoil and composers clubs. The original donation has seed-funded development and generated ongoing sustained 50/50 investment from the Department of Education and Skills and Local Music Education Partnerships.”

Music Network established Music Generation in 2010 following a €7m donation from U2 (€5m) and The Ireland Funds (€2m) to implement its national strategy for music education in Ireland.

ENDS//

Media Information:
Martin Mackin / Síle Murphy,
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t: +353 86 0288 132 / +353 1 475 1 444

EDITOR’S NOTES

Since 2010, Music Generation’s achievements have been exceptional. Key accomplishments include:

• Establishment of the programme in 12 areas of the country, 18 months ahead of schedule
• Access and participation now reaching some 26,000 children and young people annually who would otherwise not have had the choice of access or the chance to participate
• Creation of over 330 employment opportunities (300 musicians; 30 management and administration roles)
• Delivery of 80 different programmes in over 360 tuition centres
• Accessible tuition offered in over 50 different types of instruments across all genres of music
• Establishment of 12 Instrument Banks, 5 Music Libraries, 5 Recording Studios including 1 mobile recording studio and pop up performance Music Bus
• Mounting of over 100 public performances annually attended by 30,000 audience members
• Producing 10 national seminars and presenting at 4 national and 4 international conferences
• Delivery of over 150 professional development courses for musicians
• Initiation of Young Ambassadors Performance Programme featuring 200 musicians performing at 25 national and international events
• Working with over 55 local and national partners from the education, arts, community, voluntary, public, private and philanthropic sectors
• 20 new commissions by professional musicians and composers for pieces specially written for children and young people
• Securing of ongoing annual sustainable partnership funding from Government (€2.5m) and local Music Education Partnerships (€2.2m) estimated at €4.7m annually from 2016 onwards
• Investment of €450,000 from the Arts Council for a new partnership programme 2013 – 2015
• Initiation of a National Research Partnership with St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra to inform and influence future national policy
• Initiation of International Partnerships including collaboration with the Sage Gateshead UK, CME Institute USA, the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus Europe; Nimbus School of Recording & Media, Vancouver
• Awarding of Link Provider Status to Music Generation by DIT Conservatory of Music to deliver University accredited professional development training in music education for professional musicians