The award-winning online magazine Journal of Music, in partnership with the arts offices of Clare County Council and Galway City Council, has announced two mentoring schemes to encourage the next generation of music writers in the West of Ireland.
‘Next Generation Music Writers’ – a 12-month scheme dedicated to discovering new and emerging music writers – is now seeking applications from writers in County Clare and Galway City.
The scheme has been developed by Toner Quinn, Editor of The Journal of Music, in collaboration with Siobhán Mulcahy, Arts Officer with Clare County Council, and James Harrold, Arts Officer with Galway City Council.
Commenting on the scheme, Ms Mulcahy said: “Clare County Council is delighted to initiate this scheme with The Journal of Music and welcomes the focus it will bring to music events happening in the county over the next twelve months. The Journal of Music has a huge national and international following which offers opportunities for wide and varied exposure to Clare events and musicians in the coming year.”
“The professional development of writers interested in covering such activities is welcomed, as investment in creative discourse, particularly in rural areas, is key in the further development of music as an artform,” she added.
Mr Harrold commented, “Galway City Council is pleased to co-develop the project as a mentoring programme for emerging music writers who will engage with the city’s thriving music scene, in genres from traditional to metal, from classical to jazz, punk and the full range of contemporary sounds. As Galway gears up for European Capital of Culture our west coast arts writers will have a lot to write about!”
The two schemes are separate and five writers are being sought for each. Over 12 months, the writers will work with the editorial team of The Journal of Music, developing their writing and working towards publication.
The Journal of Music has previously won an international editorial award for arts coverage, and, since 2008, Toner Quinn has been a lecturer on the MA in Literature and Publishing at NUI Galway.
He said, “Writing about music is not like dancing about architecture, as the cliché goes. The writing about a music can actually affect the fortunes of a music. I believe this mentoring scheme is a terrific opportunity to contribute to musical life in Galway City and Clare County and I’m very much looking forward to working with the writers.”
For a PDF containing full details on how to apply, please email submissions@journalofmusic com.