The Arts Council in Ireland keeps Irish arts alive and thriving.
Music, storytelling, and poetry are an integral part of the Irish culture, which dates back more than 7,000 years. The national Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon provides grants to keep that heritage alive. The Irish government formed the Arts Council in 1951 to demonstrate its commitment to developing, encouraging and supporting artistic endeavors. The Arts Council makes grants in such areas as music, film, dance, visual arts, writing, and theater. It especially encourages traditional arts-- particularly in the Gaeltacht regions, where the old culture thrives and residents still speak the Irish language.
Travel and Training
Travel and Training grants offer artists and organizations the opportunity to work in countries outside Ireland. Such grants encourage artists’ professional development and enable them to network with foreign artists. The grant also supports work with mentors. It provides up to €12,000 for travel, subsistence, and fees.
Deis
The council awards Deis grants to artists working in traditional Irish arts, such as music, storytelling, dance, poetry, and song. The grants also fund collaborations between traditional Irish artists and those working in other genres. Deis grants provide money for short-term or one-time projects. Past projects have included audience development, performance, production, professional development, programming, and research. The maximum award is €20,000.
Annual Funding
Annual Funding grants help defray an organization's operating, administrative and programming costs. The grants provide a source of stable monetary support. To be eligible, an organization must have nonprofit status and demonstrate a high level of quality. The council did not set a maximum award amount for annual funding grants.
Small Arts Festivals and Events
These grants fund small-scale arts festivals and events. Applicants must demonstrate a clear artistic goal. They can use the award for venue rental, artists’ fees, administrative costs, travel, marketing, and publicity. The maximum amount is €20,000.
Arts and Disability
The arts council offers Arts and Disability Awards to disabled artists in Ireland and Northern Ireland who work in a variety of genres. The grant program supports creativity and originality by encouraging innovative or experimental projects. The maximum award is €7,000.
Writers in Schools
The Writers in Schools program funds writers and storytellers who visit primary and post-primary schools. The program fosters appreciation of literature and storytelling. Writers in Schools is the longest-running program of its type in Ireland. More than 250 artists worked in the program as of 2010. The Arts Council and Poetry Ireland, the national organization for poetry, share the cost of this project. The maximum grant is €304 per school visit.
