Galway Music Education Partnership (Galway MEP ) has formally launched its bid to secure Music Generation Funds for the development of music education in Galway City and County. Funded by U2 and the Ireland Funds, Music Generation is Ireland’s National Music Education Programme which aims to help children and young people access performance music education (vocal and instrumental ) in their own locality.
The application process commences next week with a series of city and county wide public consultation meetings with all those involved in, or who have an interest in music education. Consultation meetings will be held in Tuam, Ballinasloe, Clifden, Gort, Galway city, An Cheathrú Rua and Inis Oírr.
Following an extensive consultation process and comprehensive mapping of the existing music education provision throughout the city and county, Galway Music Education Partnership will prepare a three year development plan for music education in Co Galway. This will be submitted to Music Generation in advance of the next funding deadline of October 2011.
Galway Music Education Partnership is led by County Galway VEC and City of Galway VEC together with Galway County Council, Galway City Council, the Local Action Groups in Galway, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, the main music schools in Galway and representatives from primary and post primary schools. Funding has been provided under the Rural Development Programme by Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta, Galway Rural Development, and FORUM Connemara Ltd. to conduct the research in the county. The City of Galway VEC is providing funding to conduct research in the city.
Carmel Dooley, PRWORKS and Nicola Hampson, Killaan Consulting have been appointed by Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta on behalf of Galway MEP to carry out the research and prepare the submission to M’usic Generation. A native of Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, Ms Dooley is a former chairperson of the Post Primary Music Teacher’s Association and has over 20 years experience in music education. Nicola Hampson is an experienced project manager with 15 years experience of business consultancy and project management. They will be collaborating very closely with the Galway MEP steering committee over a sixteen week period, conducting meetings, focus groups, surveys and general research. Primary schools, post primary schools, music schools, music teachers, parents, youth organisations and young people will be consulted as part of the research for the application process.
Representatives from County Galway VEC, City of Galway VEC, Galway County Council, Galway City Council, Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta, FORUM Connemara Ltd, Galway Rural Development, Comhar na nOileán, Music Matters, Athenry School of Music, National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, Irish Primary Principals' Network and Post Primary Music Teacher's Association attended the launch recently in County Galway VEC offices, Athenry.
Speaking at the launch Seosamh Mac Donncha, Chief Executive Officer of County. Galway VEC said “Music education plays an important role in promoting creativity and self expression, and in developing children’s cognitive and affective skills. County Galway Vocational Education Committee together with City of Galway VEC is proud to co-ordinate this strategic partnership approach to music education provision in the city and county. We look forward to a wide ranging consultation process and a successful application which will deliver a high quality, consistent, and sustainable music education service for young people in Galway that is inclusive, accessible and realistically achievable within a 3 year timeframe. This is an exciting and inspiring initiative and if successful, could be a unique creative opportunity for young people in Galway in music making.”
Martina Moloney, County Manager, Galway County Council added: “Providing the foundation and framework for a long-term integrated music education service in Galway is a key action of the Galway County Development Plan 2011-2015. Through the partnership approach, Galway Music Education Programme will build on Galway’s strong track record in the fields of culture and the arts to provide sustainable outcomes for the development of music education provision in County Galway.”
Gearóid De Faoite, Príomhfheidhmeannach, Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta concluded:“The Galway Music Education Partnership is charged with a sense of ownership by the Galway community and all representative agents and interest groups. On behalf of the three Local Action Companies, we are looking forward to developing a comprehensive plan that responds to community needs and will impact across the whole county, positively enhancing music participation, performance, understanding and listening for this generation and generations to come.”
A large volume of interested queries has already been received from members of the public, music teachers, musicians and both primary and post primary teachers in all parts of the County. Public consultation meetings will be held in Tuam, Monday June 13; Ballinasloe, Wednesday June 15; Clifden, Monday June 20; Gort, Monday June 27; Galway City, Tuesday June 28; An Cheathrú Rua, Wednesday June 29, and and Inis Oírr, Thursday July 7.
Full details of the locations and times of the public consultation meetings are available on www.county galwayvec.com. Full details of the Music Generation scheme are available at www.music generation.ie
