BAI announces funding of €646,000 through Sectoral Learning & Development and Sponsorship programmes for 2021

The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has today (11.02.21) announced details of 2021 funding allocations under its Sectoral Learning & Development programme and its Sponsorship Scheme. Funding of €646,000 has been approved by the BAI to support a range of activities, details of which are outlined below.

Sectoral Learning and Development

The allocation of funding to a range of industry networks to support their various learning and development activities is a core part of the BAI’s work under the strategic objective of Enhancing Innovation and Sectoral Sustainability. Additional funding is also offered to support schemes for community broadcasters and temporary services, and initiatives for Irish language, gender, and other diversity projects.

In partnership with experts in the sector, the BAI also administers schemes to support new training and learning projects. This has resulted in the creation of innovative and strategic alliances, which continue to promote a culture of learning and development in the broadcasting sector.

In 2021, the BAI plans to allocate €484,000 to support a range of initiatives in this area. Of this, €342,488 will be awarded to 16 industry and representative organisations under the Network Funding strand of the programme. Funding recipients include CRAOL (the representative body for community radio); the Community Television Association (representing community television services); Learning Waves (the training organisation for commercial radio broadcasters); Women on Air (advocacy group promoting greater representation of women in the media); Screen Producers Ireland; the Writers Guild of Ireland; the Screen Composers Guild of Ireland; the National Union of Journalists and Galway Film Centre (Audio-visual producers with a regional focus).

Sponsorship Scheme

The BAI Sponsorship Scheme provides sponsorship funding to media-related events and activities. This contributes to the achievement of the BAI’s strategic objectives and raises awareness of the BAI’s work and engagement with groups across the audiovisual and creative industries. 

Having completed the assessment process under the scheme, the BAI is awarding €162,000 in sponsorship funding to 24 applicants for events and activities taking place in 2021.

Among the events and activities to receive sponsorship support are: The Celtic Media Festival, the Gaze International Film Festival, The Irish Animation Awards, Irish language radio workshops from Raidió Rí Rá, and the Royal Television Society Industry Awards.

Commenting on the funding allocations, BAI chief executive, Michael O’Keeffe said: “The BAI is delighted to offer funding this year to a wide range of applicants as part of its Sponsorship and Sectoral Learning and Development programmes. Both initiatives help to achieve the BAI’s strategic objectives to enhance innovation and sectoral sustainability and promote diversity and plurality. The high standard of applications received, and creative approach to some of the events and initiatives being funded in light of the challenges posed by the COVID pandemic, demonstrates the innovation and resourcefulness of these sectors. We would like to congratulate and wish all the funding recipients every success in undertaking their various events and projects.”

Further information on the BAI’s funding initiatives can be found here.

ENDS

Media Contact: Thelma Harris / Joanne Ahern, DHR Communications. Tel: 083-0517622 / 087-9881837.

All other queries: contact the BAI at 01-6441200 or info@bai.ie

Notes to Editors:

• List of Sectoral Learning and Development funding recipients:

    Network Funding:

• CRAOL
• Learning Waves
• Community Television Association (CTA)
• Creative Europe Desk Ireland – Media Office Dublin
• Creative Europe Desk Ireland – Media Office Galway
• Screen Producers Ireland (SPI)
• Women on Air
• National Union of Journalists (NUJ)
• Women in Film and Television Ireland
• Animation Skillnet & Animation Ireland
• Writers’ Guild of Ireland (WGI)
• Galway Film Centre
• IFTA
• Screen Composers Guild of Ireland
• Screen Skillnet
• ACE Producers

Other learning and development activities include:

• Learning Waves Journalism Bursary Programme 2021
• Glúin Nua
• Comhthionól Ealaíne na Gaeilge (Oireachtas na Gaeilge)
• Partnership support of TG4 Audience Research (Irish Language News)
• Access Research relating to Audio-description Production Practices (in association with DkIT)

List of Sponsorship funding recipients:

• Animation Ireland
• Royal Television Society – Republic of Ireland Chapter
• Celtic Media Festival
• Choice Music Prize
• James Joyce Cultural Centre (Bloomsday Festival)
• Cleraun Media Ethics Forum
• Catalyst International Film Festival
• Cork International Film Festival
• Dublin International Film Festival
• Fresh Film Festival
• Gaze International Film Festival
• Galway Film Fleadh
• Harp Media (Student Film and Screenplay Competition)
• Guth Gafa International Documentary Festival
• IFTA Awards
• Raidió Rí Rá (Irish Language Radio Workshops)
• Rockfinch Limited (Audio Futures 2021)
• Samhain Family Festival
• Student Marketing Network (National Student Media Awards)
• Women in Film and Television
• Writers Guild of Ireland (ZeBBies)
• IMRO (existing multiannual contract)
• Oireachtas na Gaeilge (existing multiannual contract)
• Dingle Animation Festival (existing multiannual contract)