€5m Ireland–UK cultural funding to support major music and choral collaborations
A new €5 million funding package has been announced to support twelve joint cultural projects between Ireland and the UK, with several significant opportunities for the music and choral sectors.
The investment forms part of the UK–Ireland Cultural Co-Operation Programme, a five-year initiative (2026–2030) designed to strengthen collaboration between leading cultural institutions across both countries.
Among the funded projects, music plays a prominent role – particularly through partnerships led by the National Concert Hall in Dublin.
A major collaboration with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic will include youth choral exchange concerts between Ireland and the UK, orchestral exchange programmes enabling large-scale performances in Dublin and Liverpool, and a new orchestral commission exploring cultural connections between Ireland and Liverpool
In a separate initiative, the National Concert Hall in Dublinwill partner with the Barbican in London and Moving On Music Belfast to deliver a flagship folk music project. This will culminate in performances across London, Dublin and Belfast, exploring new directions in folk music across the islands.
Beyond performance, the programme also creates broader opportunities for musicians, educators and cultural professionals.
A new ‘All-In’ access scheme – led by the Arts Councils in Ireland and the UK – will introduce a digital membership system aimed at improving accessibility across cultural spaces, including concerts and festivals. This is expected to open up greater participation for deaf, disabled and neurodivergent audiences and practitioners.
The programme also includes a strong emphasis on professional exchange and development, with cultural workers across music and the arts able to engage in cross-border collaboration, skills-sharing and joint projects.
The funding delivers on a commitment made at the 2025 UK–Ireland Summit to establish a long-term cultural partnership between the two nations.
Projects span three core areas: joint programming and performances; professional exchange and development; and research and policy collaboration
Speaking on the announcement, Taoiseach Micheál Martin highlighted the opportunity for shared learning and artistic exchange, while UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the programme as a celebration of ‘the best of our musical, theatrical and historical assets’.