News

The National Youth Choir of Northern Ireland (NYCNI) is set to close this summer following the loss of its annual funding from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI). The decision will bring an end to a 26-year legacy of cross-community choral training for young people across the region. Established in 1999, NYCNI has provided … Continued

Help Musicians’ Electronic Music Award, in association with DJ Mag, has reopened for applications, offering a 12-month support programme for producers, DJs and electronic musicians ready to take the next leap in their careers. Running until Friday, 29th August at 5pm, the award is open to artists working across all electronic genres, from house, techno, … Continued

Pamela McCormick is one of the most quietly transformative figures in UK music education. Born and raised in Belfast during the Troubles, Pamela left NI at 18 and went on to forge a remarkable career across jazz, youth culture, music education and social justice. In 2000, she co-founded Urban Development (now UD) in Stratford, east … Continued

Culture Night Belfast is officially back for 2025, taking place on Friday 19th September. This year’s event will look a little different: it will be artist-led, venue-based and spread across the city. There will be no road closures or central stage. Instead, the focus will be on live events happening in real spaces throughout Belfast … Continued

Submissions for this year’s NI Music Prize have now closed, but keep your eyes peeled for the 2025 shortlists! The NI Music Prize returns to the Ulster Hall on Wednesday 12th November 2025, as part of the Sound of Belfast festival, organised by the Oh Yeah Music Centre. This year’s submissions window covered three key … Continued

For this month’s edition of Conversations, we sit down with Claire Hall, newly appointed Creative Producer at Belfast’s Oh Yeah Music Centre. A long-time champion of inclusive dancefloors, grassroots scenes and bold creative production, Claire brings years of experience across nightlife, placemaking and festivals into her new role helming the programming of this year’s Sound … Continued

Ireland Music Week has announced the 50 artists selected to showcase at its 2025 edition, taking place from October 1st-3rd across Dublin city centre. Organised by First Music Contact, the event has become a key industry-facing platform for emerging Irish artists who are ready to take the next step in their careers. More than just … Continued

Applications are now open for a wide range of individual artist funding schemes from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI). Whether you’re emerging, mid-career or long-established, these grants are designed to support your development, creative output and international reach across all artforms. Part of the Support for Individual Artists Programme (SIAP), the schemes offer … Continued

A major new partnership between Music Minds Matter and Spotify promises to bring vital mental health support to more artists, songwriters and music professionals across Ireland, the UK and beyond. Announced earlier this month, the collaboration forms part of Spotify’s Heart & Soul: Mental Health for Creators initiative, a global campaign designed to address the … Continued

A significant boost has just landed for musicians, bands and community ensembles across NI. On 19th June, the Department for Communities announced a major new round of investment into the Musical Instruments Scheme, with a total fund of £750,000 available. Delivered by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the scheme is designed to support the … Continued