Seven exciting new music projects supported to tour across the UK and Republic of Ireland through PRS Foundation’s Beyond Borders

Published: 02 Feb 2023

UK and Ireland-based organisations, music groups and composers will receive funding through the co-commissioning and touring programme Beyond Borders. The exciting cross-border projects are:

• Kirkos Ensemble (Republic of Ireland) and New Music Dublin present Carbon Neutral Music – Kirkos Ensemble will devise, perform and tour Carbon Neutral Music, an artistic and practical response to touring internationally in the climate crisis.
• Linda Buckley (Scotland) and Chamber Music Scotland present Thar Farraige (Over Sea) – Commission and tour of a new chamber work by Irish composer Linda Buckley for string quartet, small pipes and electronics.
• BAN BAM (Republic of Ireland) and Improvised Music Company present BAN BAM Tour 2023/24 – A UK and Ireland tour of three new works from female and gender-minority composers commissioned as part of the BAN BAM Commission & Development Award
• Ed Bennett (England) and Contemporary Music Centre present Sherman Pectu Duo Tour – 3 composers will write works for viola and percussion to be performed by the Sherman/Petcu duo alongside other premieres of Irish music.
• Ben Lunn (Scotland) and Drake Music Scotland present Sparking Renaissance –Six Composers will collaborate closely with Welsh pianist Siwan Rhys to develop cutting edge new works for piano for an album to be released by NMC Recordings
• Gwyneth Glyn (Wales) and Lorcán Mac Mathúna and Knockengorroch present The Real Merlin – Musicians from Wales, Scotland, Ireland and England (Northumbria) will create multi-lingual new work inspired by the poetry of 'Hen Ogled' (the Old North)
• James Thompson (Northern Ireland) and Moving On Music present ADJUNCT Ensemble Tour - Tour of UK and Ireland with the newly formed ADJUNCT ensemble, led and directed by NI Composer and musician Jamie Thompson.

Beyond Borders was established in 2010 to support high quality co-commissions and tours, stimulating collaboration between composers, performance groups and music organisations across the four different UK countries and, since 2014, the Republic of Ireland.

Previous Beyond Borders successes have included Songs of Separation, a collective of 10 female English and Scottish folk musicians whose album won ‘Best Album’ at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2017, and David Fennessy's ‘Panopticon’, commissioned by Hebrides Ensemble and Psappha, which won the Scottish Award for New Music for Small Scale work. Martin Green’s ‘Flit’, combining live music and animation which reflects on first hand stories of migration, also won over audiences and critics nationwide in 2016, and was funded through Beyond Borders.

Beyond Borders is a co-commissioning and touring programme run in partnership with Creative Scotland using National Lottery funding, Arts Council of Wales, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Arts Council of Ireland / An Chomhairle Ealaío

Find out more about the programme.

Background

Since 2000 PRS Foundation has given more than £44 million to over 8,500 new music initiatives. 9 out of 12 Mercury Prize 2022 nominees had received PRS Foundation support (including the winner Little Simz) and the charity has supported BRITS, RPS, AIM and Ivors Award-winners. www.prsfoundation.com

Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland distributing funding provided by the Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Further information at creativescotland.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about the value of art and creativity in Scotland and join in at www.ourcreativevoice.scot

Arts Council of Wales is responsible for funding and developing the arts in Wales. We believe the arts are central to the life and wellbeing of the nation. We invest public funding, using these funds to create opportunities for people to enjoy and take part in the arts.

The Arts Council of Ireland/An Chomhairle Ealaíon is the Irish government agency for developing the arts. We work in partnership with artists, arts organisations, public policy makers and others to build a central place for the arts in Irish life. For further information on the Arts Council of Ireland/An Chomhairle Ealaíon please visit www.artscouncil.ie . Follow us @artscouncil_ie and www.facebook.com/artscouncilireland

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is the lead funding and development agency for the Arts. Our funding enables artists and arts organisations to increase access to the arts across society and deliver great art that is within everyone’s reach. National Lottery-funded arts programmes are bringing communities closer together, tackling prejudice, racism, isolation and mental health and improving emotional wellbeing. www.artscouncil-ni.org (twitter) @ArtsCouncilNI   (facebook) \ArtsCouncilN

Media contacts

Liam McMahon: liam@prsfoundation.com / +44 (0) 7834 625 985

For further information about Beyond Borders please contact:

Elizabeth Sills: elizabeth@prsfoundation.com / +44 (0) 20 3741 4828