A pot of £150,000 of new money is to be made available to boost regional touring in Northern Ireland to bring jazz and world music along with other under-represented genres of national and international quality to audiences in small towns and villages throughout Northern Ireland crucially beyond the major urban centres of Belfast and Derry.

At a music sectoral meeting earlier today held at the Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast the Arts Council of Northern Ireland announced details of the scheme. The ACNI’s head of music Ciaran Scullion outlining the scheme said the music touring programme plans were not about a quantitative approach, and "will facilitate partnerships and collaborations among artists within the music sector." November sees the music touring programme open, and the ACNI is calling for all groups, venues, promoters and musicians to apply for the new funding.

For more go to www.artscouncil-ni.org or phone 028 9038 5200