skip to main content

Further Financial Support for Culture Sector in Northern Ireland Announced

In welcome news, the Department for Communities has announced a £4m support package for the arts, creative industries and cultural sector in Northern Ireland.

Published: 24 July 2020 | 12:00 AM Updated: 28 April 2021 | 4:31 PM
Photo of a big concert celebration with bright lights and cheering crowds
The fund has been designed with an emphasis on bolstering freelancers and performers and preventing the loss of arts organisations. Photo credit: shutterstock

Department for Communities Minister Carál Ní Chuilín has today announced details of the Creative Support Fund which will reopen on 31 July with a £4m support package for the arts, creative industries and cultural sector.

The fund has been designed with an emphasis on bolstering freelancers and performers and preventing the loss of arts organisations, with priority being given to those who have not been able to access other funding from government or elsewhere.

The fund will open from 31 July - 17 August and the awards will range from £1,000 to £5,000.

Find out more on Department for Communities webpage.

Very welcome news for the creative sector

Our Regional Organiser for Scotland & Northern Ireland Caroline Sewell responded to the announcement:

“This is very welcome news for the creative sector in Northern Ireland, and particularly for those performers and creative workers who have fallen through the gaps in terms of eligibility for other sources of government support.

“The Department for Communities have listened, and we look forward to further working with them in the coming months to ensure we continue to look at ways we can support our members during this time of hardship.”

No musician left behind

Act now to support musicians by continuing to ask the Chancellor Rishi Sunak to protect all self-employed workers, and ensure no musician is left behind.

You can use our template letter if you're not sure what to say. Remember to include how you are affected too. Personal stories make all the difference.

Write to Rishi now.

Get MU membership today

From gig players to part-time teachers and professional instrumentalists, MU members can access specialist insurance for musicians. This includes Public Liability, Instrument and Equipment Insurance, Accident Insurance, Tax Investigation Insurance, and Professional Indemnity Insurance for music teachers.

Explore our member services

  • Get public liability insurance for musicians
  • Access expert legal support
  • Be represented in your profession
  • Access expert career advice, resources, and training events
  • Connect, network, and get to know the community of musicians

Learn about all membership benefits

Get MU membership today

Continue reading

13 members of the Board gathered in front of some stairs.

MU Joins Newcastle Gateshead Music City Strategic Board

The MU has joined the new Newcastle Gateshead Music City Strategic Board alongside artists, venues, labels, media professionals, academics and industry experts. The Board will help shape the future of the region’s music sector and support long-term growth across the local music ecosystem.

Published: 11 May 2026

Read more about MU Joins Newcastle Gateshead Music City Strategic Board
The panellists sat on the stage with microphones, in front of a screen with saying

MU Panel Explores Rates, Rights and Royalties at Sound City 2026

At Liverpool Sound City Conference 2026, the MU brought together industry professionals and working musicians for its ‘Money in the Mix’ panel to demystify these issues and offer practical insights into building a sustainable career in session work.

Published: 11 May 2026

Read more about MU Panel Explores Rates, Rights and Royalties at Sound City 2026
Chapman sat in front of a piano, talking to Claudia Winkleman on set for Channel Four’s show The Piano.

Why So Few Disabled Professional Musicians: The Barriers Built Into UK Music Education

Why are disabled musicians still so rarely seen in the UK’s conservatoires, orchestras and freelance workforce? For Chun, the parent of accomplished young MU member Chapman, the answer lies not in a lack of talent, but in post-16 structures that continue to close doors on disabled progression.

Published: 08 May 2026

Read more about Why So Few Disabled Professional Musicians: The Barriers Built Into UK Music Education
Marcelo and another busker in yellow M U campaign t-shirts holding pink cut out guitars at a demo last August.

Protecting Amplification in Busking

One year on from the Leicester Square busking ban, MU member Marcelo Cervone reflects on how amplification shapes public space, challenges misconceptions on busking volume and makes the case for protecting performers’ pitches.

Published: 08 May 2026

Read more about Protecting Amplification in Busking