Covid-19 update from CMC

Contemporary Music Centre Ireland is continuing to provide all our core services remotely to represented composers, to performers active in new music and to Irish new music enthusiasts on the island of Ireland and internationally. We appreciate that many in the arts community will face significant financial and personal challenges due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The contemporary music community in Ireland is vibrant and innovative, and CMC will support the new music community in remaining strong, staying connected and moving forward. CMC is actively exploring and developing new digital initiatives to support the dissemination of composers’ work, and we will continue to produce content and use CMC’s website to highlight composers and their work.

CMC is currently advocating on the sector’s behalf to funders and stakeholders, and is actively developing new initiatives to support artists who are active in new music in Ireland, however, we also need your input. We have created this form where you can tell us about the following:

• How the current situation is affecting you financially, and how you think the sector could be stimulated and supported
• Issues you would like us to raise with the Arts Council/An Comhairle Ealaíon, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Department of Culture, Heritage and Gaeltacht and the Department of Social Protection
• Your latest digital releases and any planned online initiatives

At CMC, we are conscious of the importance of staying connected in a time when we are all more isolated than ever. As always, we are also connecting with our community through social media, so please visit us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Also consider connecting with new music colleagues through online meeting channels. Apps such as Zoom, Skype and Google Meet all provide free video conferencing services.

Important information regarding support

Some new social welfare programmes have been introduced, which you may find useful. The Journal of Music have outlined what help is available to artists here.

Details on how to apply for the Covid–19 Pandemic Emergency Payment are here.

Civic Theatre in Tallaght have set up an artists’ fund which the Journal of Music have covered here

You can also listen to CMC’s recent podcast episode which briefly discusses the current crisis, available here.