This article is from page 20 of the 2014-01-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 20 JPG
NEW jobs and the first countywide music education programme are on the way after Clare secured over € 400,000 from a funding project supported by rock legends U2.
The successful Clare bid will see music teachers employed to work in school and out of school settings, teaching music to children and young adults around the county.
The overall aim is to provide the first countywide music education service in Clare.
‘Music Generation, the U2 and Ireland Funds’ supported National Music Education Programme initi- ated by Music Network, announced earlier this month that South Dublin and Clare had been selected for participation in the fourth and final round of the programme.
Clare Music Education Partnership will receive close to € 435,000 in seed funding which will enable high quality, accessible music education programmes to be provided for children and young people in their local communities. Clare / Limerick Education and Training Board (formerly Clare VEC) is the lead statutory agency for the programme.
Meetings have already taken place between representatives of Clare Limerick ETB, CMEP and Music Generation.
It is expected that the programme will start to roll out towards the latter half of 2014. Clare’s bid for Music Generation funding attracted support from a number of local agencies including Clare County Council, LEADER, Family Resource Centres, Clare Youth Services and Maoin Cheoil an Chláir.
Acclaimed musician and scholar Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin also lent his high profile support to the bid along with University of Limerick’s World Academy of Music.
It is thought that the Clare will collaborate with local private music providers and the successful Limerick City Music Generation Project.
Among the aims for the programme are the establishment of a Clare County Orchestra and Clare Children’s Choir. It is hoped the funding will create employment opportunities for Clare singers and musicians.
For further information log onto the Clare Music Education Partnership Facebook page.
In July 2009 U2 and The Ireland Funds announced a € 7 million donation to support the cause when national funding to roll out successful pilot schemes was impacted due to the current economic climate.
Music Generation will provide three-year seed funding to establish local services, which will be sustained by Music Education Partnerships on a long-term basis.