Announcing another great boost for the long-term sustainability of music education in Ireland!

January 27 2016, Dublin: The long-term sustainability of non-mainstream music education in Ireland received a further boost today following a commitment by the Department of Education and Skills to future, ongoing funding of Music Generation, Ireland’s National Music Education Programme. An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, and Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’ Sullivan joined U2’s Adam Clayton, Caitriona Fottrell and Kieran McLoughlin of The Ireland Funds, and Music Generation students to mark the announcement, which will facilitate the expansion of the ground breaking music initiative in up to nine additional areas of the country and secure the funding of the programme beyond 2020.

Today’s announcement follows a recent €3m philanthropic donation by U2 (€2m raised from the band’s 2015 iNNOCENCE & eXPERIENCE Dublin concerts) and The Ireland Funds (€1m) to Music Generation to enable this second phase of the music education programme. Music Generation is currently established in 12 areas of the country, reaching some 26,000 children and young people annually who would otherwise not have had the choice of access or the chance to participate in music education.

Speaking at today’s announcement An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D said: “This is extremely positive news for music education in Ireland and a fine example of how partnerships across sectors – local, public, private and philanthropic can deliver long term benefits in different sectors. This announcement is a further mark of government’s ongoing investment in our children and young people and in the future of our country.”

The philanthropic donation of €3m by U2 and The Ireland Funds will provide the seed fund for the expansion of Music Generation, through locally run Music Education Partnerships (MEPs) in up to nine additional areas of the country between 2016 -2020. From 2020 the Department of Education will then replace the philanthropic donations to ensure programmes are sustained on a long-term and lasting basis through 50/50 matched funding with Local Music Education Partnerships who continue to raise the other 50% locally.

Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan T.D. said: “Today is about ensuring the long term future of non-mainstream music education in Ireland. The Department of Education has worked closely with Music Generation as it evolved and we are delighted to see that both U2 and The Ireland Funds continue to be involved in the programme. This initiative which began just six years ago is now a hugely successful programme that is transforming the landscape for music education in Ireland and we are delighted to be able to commit to the long term future of Phase 2.”

Welcoming today’s announcement, U2’s Adam Clayton said:
“Five years in and Music Generation is continuing to thrive. It is wonderful to see this further commitment from the government which will bring us closer to achieving the goal of access to music education for every child and young person in Ireland. The support we received at school was very important to us as young musicians, and we are very proud of our part in this programme.”

Kieran McLoughlin, President & CEO, The Worldwide Ireland Funds said,
“The Ireland Funds are proud to be in partnership with U2 and the Government in support of Music Generation. A whole range of public benefits are being achieved by providing musical education to 26,000 children and creating 330 jobs. Music Generation is a splendid example of what can be achieved by Government and philanthropists working in tandem”.

Responding to government’s announcement, Rosaleen Molloy, National Director of Music Generation, said: “I am delighted that the Department of Education and Skills has announced that it will sustain the funding of new Music Generation programmes across Ireland into the future, together with local Music Education Partnerships. This support demonstrates Government’s commitment to develop a sustainable and inclusive music education service in Ireland, which will inspire and engage children and young people to participate in active music-making, regardless of socio-economic circumstances or geographical location. The next step for Music Generation is now to build on the success of its first five year phase, taking the programme to the next level and responding to demand from around the country, safe in the knowledge that financial backing is secured for years to come.”

ENDS//

Media Contact
Aoife Lucey, Communications Manager
aoife@musicgeneration.ie
+353 1 475 8454

Notes to editors
Music Generation is Ireland’s National Music Education Programme which transforms the lives of children and young people through access to high quality subsidized performance music education. Established in 2010 by Music Network, Phase 1 of Music Generation was made possible by a €7m philanthropic donation - €5m from U2 and €2m from The Ireland Funds - the largest ever philanthropic donation to non-mainstream music education in Ireland in the history of the State. The philanthropic donation was gifted to progress the implementation of Music Network’s Feasibility Study for a National System of Local Music Education Services.

Music Generation currently works closely with Government through the Department of Education and Skills (DES) and Local Music Education Partnerships (MEPs) in 12 areas of the country established during Phase 1. From 2016 these programmes will continue to be sustained through ongoing 50/50 funding from the DES and MEPs, ensuring a long term and lasting outcome from U2 and The Ireland Funds’ philanthropic giving.

Phase 2 of Music Generation has been initiated through a further €3m donation from U2 (€2m) and The Ireland Funds (€1m) in 2015. This gift will enable the expansion of Ireland’s national non-mainstream music education programme into up to nine new areas of the country between 2016 and 2020. The Department of Education and Skills has pledged its commitment to sustaining funding for Phase 2 into the future, from 2020.

Music Generation believes in every child and young person’s musical potential and their innate artistry, that it is every child and young person’s right to have the choice of access and the chance to participate as a musical citizen and that music doesn’t just change lives, it transforms lives.

Music Generation focuses on performance music education – that is vocal and instrumental tuition, encompassing all music genres and all types of instruments and vocal styles, delivered by skilled professional musicians interacting in an inspirational way with children and young people.

www.musicgeneration.ie

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 for Phase 1 of the programme (12 areas of the country)
• Securing of ongoing annual sustainable partnership funding from Government and local Music Education Partnerships for Phase 2 of the programme from 2020 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