The Arts Council Strategic Funding for Artists (Ireland)

Objectives

• In offering Strategic Funding to organisations, the Arts Council wishes to ensure:
  • The delivery of excellent artwork and/or events, activities and services.
  • Excellent opportunities for artists and/or arts professionals to develop their practice and/or to create or to be engaged in high-quality work.
  • The diversity of contemporary Ireland is reflected in the work we support.
  • More people will enjoy high-quality arts experiences.
  • Increased depth of engagement by and with the public.
  • Excellent standards in governance and management in the arts.

Eligibility Criteria

• Strategic Funding is open only to organisations. You can make only one application each year for Strategic Funding.
• To be eligible for Strategic Funding, your organisation must:
  • Be formally constituted as either a Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG) or a Designated Activity Company (DAC) or a statutory body.
  • Apply in its own name and not in the name of another company or individual.
  • Have previously successfully applied for Arts Council funding either in the name of your organisation or in the name of a key person involved in the organisation.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Organisations that have already applied for funding through Arts Grant Funding 2025 or the Festival Investment Scheme 2025, unless permitted to do so by the Arts Council. Organisations must discuss this with the relevant arts team in advance.
• Members of the Council of National Cultural Institutions (CNCI) directly funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
• You are a first-time applicant and have not discussed your application in advance with the relevant arts team.

For more information, visit The Arts Council.