Skiddle awards more than £10,000 in grants

Ticketing platform Skiddle has awarded more than £10,000 in grants to event organisers in Northern Ireland.

Following two funding rounds last year, where over £30,000 was distributed to student promoters and aspiring event organisers in Scotland, this year’s fund focused on fostering talent in Belfast and beyond.

Each recipient received a grant of up to £1,000 to support events held throughout the season while also being offered mentorship from Skiddle.

This includes guidance in marketing, launch and ticketing strategies, and key sales dates.

The winners included Plain Sailing, a club brand and zine publisher, Bedroom Community which organises live gigs and champions local talent, and Looney Tunes, which specialises in rave events.

The initiative aims to support a new generation of local promoters, equipping them with resources to bring event ideas to life and, in turn, strengthen music and nightlife scenes.

“Through the Northern Ireland Promoter Fund, Skiddle continues its commitment to empowering emerging event organisers across the UK, helping them shape the future of the events industry,” read a Skiddle statement.

Past recipients of the Skiddle promoter fund, Glasgow’s PEAK, have been able to use the money to propel their growth.

“For people who are just thinking about starting nights, that fund could be everything for them,” the duo said.

“That could get them started right away.

“This money helped us go from two headliners to three headliners which brings a whole influx of other people to the event.

“It costs a lot to put on these events and profit margins can be really tight so getting that extra money is massive for us.”