New Pilot Grant Scheme To Boost Night-Time Economy Launched

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin has launched a new pilot grant scheme to help boost the night time economy in Ireland, according to statement published on Gov.ie.

Details
The new Night-Time Economy Support Scheme (NTESS) provides funding of €2.6 million to pubs, nightclubs, cafés and other suitable licenced/unlicensed premises to support the provision of entertainment during off-peak times, according to the statement published on Gov.ie, which also noted that the aim is to promote an increase in footfall in Ireland’s cities, towns and villages as well as providing artists with paying gigs and customers with a more alternative, diverse and inclusive night-time offering, and that this initiative is in support of two recommendations in the Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce.

Statements By Minister Martin
The statement published on Gov.ie included a statement from Minister Martin that said, “I want to support and develop a thriving environment at night in our cities and rural towns. This scheme aims to attract people in to our towns and cities later in the evening and night time by offering a range of cultural activities, in a variety of venues. It will also support businesses in trialling events during the earlier part of the week when it’s typically quieter with a view to developing a more long-term sustainable offering in the night-time economy.”

Minister Martin continued, “I have also listened to the sector in relation to the lack of venues for artists and performers, especially new and emerging acts. This scheme will aim to provide those opportunities for new acts, by supporting the smaller venues such as pubs and cafés to trial out new cultural activities and provide those much needed spaces and paying gigs to artists.”

Additional Information
According to the statement published on Gov.ie, the guidelines for the new scheme are available at Gov.ie/en/publication/34e09-the-night-time-economy-support-scheme-ntess-2022-guidelines/, and applications for the new scheme can be made at NTESS.tcagsm.gov.ie/.

Original article by Dave Simpson on hospitalityireland.com