Organizer Information
The Arts Council is Ireland’s principal public funding body for the arts, dedicated to supporting artists, arts organizations, and the creative sector. Operating under government oversight, the Council provides grants, development opportunities, and resources to nurture professional practising artists, promote cultural engagement, and ensure high-quality arts activity throughout the Republic of Ireland. Its programs prioritize diversity, accessibility, and innovation, offering tailored support for a wide range of Visual Arts, Performing Arts, and Literary Arts projects. The Arts Council also implements policies to ensure fair pay, professional development, and inclusive participation for artists and communities.
Title & Description
Arts Grant Funding 2027
The Arts Grant Funding 2027 program offers flexible support to professional practising artists and arts organizations across Ireland. This fund is designed to support multiple arts activities or programs over a fixed period (12–24 months), including creation, production, presentation, and public engagement initiatives. Applicants may propose individual or collective projects that:
- Generate high-quality arts experiences for audiences
- Provide resources, facilities, or training for artists
- Develop talent and nurture artistic skills
- Engage diverse communities and audiences
Supported activities span Visual Arts, Theatre, Music, Dance, Literature, Circus, Opera, Film, and other arts disciplines, allowing experimentation, co-production, residencies, creative laboratories, or digital publishing initiatives. The program is structured to respond to the evolving needs of artists and the arts sector while promoting public participation and equitable access.
Categories
Visual Arts, Theatre, Music, Dance, Literature, Film, Circus, Opera, Participatory Arts, Street Performance, Traditional Arts
Eligibility
- Open to individual professional practising artists or organizations (CLG, DAC, partnerships, etc.)
- Applicants must demonstrate collaboration with other artists
- Activities must include public outcomes or benefits for other artists
- Applicants should be based or resident in the Republic of Ireland (non-residents may apply if the project benefits the Irish arts sector)
- Applicants cannot be undergraduate students or seek funding for postgraduate studies
- Arts Centres are ineligible to apply directly, but associated artists may submit proposals
- Applicants must comply with Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) priorities, encouraging participation across gender, sexual orientation, civil/family status, religion, age, disability, race, Traveller community membership, and socio-economic background
Program Benefits & Awards
- Flexible grant funding to cover project costs, including wages, production, rehearsal, studio, equipment, co-production, digital publishing, or audience engagement
- Support for disability access costs, ensuring participation for artists and audiences with disabilities
- Opportunity to develop skills, capacity, and artistic practice through co-creation, residencies, or mentorship
- Recognition and validation within Ireland’s professional arts sector
- Average grants in previous rounds range from €27,300 to €226,000, depending on discipline and scale
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Completed online application form (Arts Council Online Services)
- Detailed proposal outlining activities, objectives, and timelines
- Supporting documents:
- Arts Activity Report (AAR) template for the relevant funding period
- Examples of work (1–3 recent works; manuscripts, audio/video, or publications)
- Budgets (Individual Activity Budget or Theatre Budget Template)
- Biographies of key personnel
- Evidence of partnerships or collaborations
- Disability access costs documentation, if applicable
Additional optional documents may include materials supporting engagement with target audiences, communities, or specialized groups.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 19 March 2026
- Funding Period: January 2027 – December 2027 (12 months) or January 2027 – December 2028 (24 months)
Location
Republic of Ireland
Additional Details
- Applications must adhere to fair pay and contracting policies for artists
- All activities should be accessible to audiences and participants, including provision for disability access
- Funding does not cover ongoing core administrative costs unrelated to proposed activities or capital expenditures
- The Arts Council emphasizes transparency and accountability; prior completion of funded activities will influence feasibility scoring