Merrion Square, Dublin, where the Arts Council is housed.

The deadline for the Irish Arts Council’s music commissions award is approaching. Submissions to the annual award should be made by Thursday, 15 March 2012.

The purpose of the award is to fund fees paid to composers for new work — so production costs are not covered, though there must be some form of dissemination (such as a concert or a talk) as part of any proposal.

Artists cannot commission themselves, and applications should be submitted by the commissioner. A commissioner could be a musician, an ensemble, a venue or production company, for example.

The maximum amount for the award is €10,000. Either the artist or the commissioner should be born or based in Ireland.

artscouncil.ie