Applications open for Arts Grant Scheme (Ireland)

Objectives

• The Arts Grant Scheme is operated in accordance with the 2003 Arts Act; which states:
  • A local authority may provide such financial or other assistance as it considers appropriate to such persons or in respect of such activities, projects or undertakings, for the purposes of:
    • stimulating public interest in the arts,
    • promoting knowledge, appreciation and practice of the arts, or
    • improving standards in the arts, within its functional area.

Aims 

• Cork County Council aims:
  • To support the work of county Cork based arts organizations and artists.
  • To help develop new audiences for the arts.
  • To support new, innovative artistic work of high quality.
  • To support opportunities for artist engagement with communities.
  • To ensure that artists receive fair remuneration for their work.
  • To encourage creative collaborations between artists and/or between organizations.
  • To support inclusive arts practice that engages with Cork county’s increasingly diverse and multicultural population.
  • To promote equality and diversity by supporting creative engagement opportunities for the economically or socially marginalized or those experiencing discrimination through gender, sexual orientation, civil or family status, religion, age, disability, race or membership of the Traveller community.
  • To encourage initiatives that have the capacity to animate public spaces in innovative and creative ways.
  • To support artistic activities and events that focus public attention on climate change and the environment.
  • To encourage artistic and creative activity that generates positive social, cultural, environmental or economic impact in the county.
  • To support participation in national initiatives such as Culture Night, Bealtaine Festival and Cruinniú na nÓg.

Focus Areas

• Cork County Council accepts applications from new or established arts groups, artists, festivals, or other groups proposing creative artistic activity in any art form including but not limited to:
  • Visual Arts
  • Music
  • Literature
  • Traditional Arts, Music and Dance
  • Theatre
  • Dance
  • Community Arts
  • Children and Youth Arts
  • Arts and Older People
  • Inclusive Arts
  • Arts Access
  • Arts and Health
  • Art, Environment and Climate Change
  • Film and Video
  • Festivals and Events

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be based in Cork county, exceptions to this rule will be considered where the activity proposed clearly demonstrates capacity to deliver quality arts engagement with people in the county administrative area.
• Applicants must demonstrate a commitment and ability to achieve artistic excellence through the proposed activity.
• Applicants must demonstrate commitment and ability to support public access to and engagement in the arts through participation or as audience, or both.
• Applicants must demonstrate the need for financial assistance to undertake the proposed project. Applications must show that the applicant has considered other potential sources of public or private funding. Applications must indicate if funding sought from other sources at is confirmed or not.
• Applicants must demonstrate that artists employed will be supported in their work and fairly remunerated.
• Eligible expenditure includes Artist Fees, Venue hire, Equipment hire, Insurance, Evaluation and Documentation costs, Promotion costs.
• Please adhere to Cork County Council’s Artist Remuneration Policy.
• Cork County Council funding policy requires that any organization seeking funding, whose activities involve children, submit a copy of their current child safeguarding policy along with their completed application. Failure to do so may render the application invalid.
• Cork County Council strongly recommends that all organizations have adequate insurance cover for the projects they undertake. In providing grant support Cork County Council will not be liable for any actions that may arise as a result of the negligence of the applicant.
• If any part of a proposed event/activity is to take place on Cork County Council public property or in a public space controlled by Cork County Council, provisional approval from the Municipal District is required. The application form must be submitted to the Municipal District Office in the area where the event is to take place.
• Proposals for outdoor murals must include approval in principle from the relevant MDO.

Ineligibility Criteria

• The following are not covered under the scheme:
  • An application which does not have an artistic or creative objective, for example where the primary objective is sporting, heritage, general recreation, etc.
  • An application that does not demonstrate commitment to supporting public engagement in the arts.
  • Applications from private/for profit entities.
  • Any activities or events taking place outside the Cork County administrative area, except in circumstances where Council support may be justified.
  • Any application intending to use funding to generate a private or personal income.
  • Any application intending to use funding for sponsorship, local fundraising, purchase of prizes etc.
  • Any application intended to seek funding to subsidize individual or group tuition fees for formal or informal education.
  • General administrative costs of organizations.
  • Capital/purchase of assets.
  • Projects, events, or activities already completed.

Assessment Criteria

• The assessment process will consider all relevant information provided. It is important that information is presented clearly and concisely and that you demonstrate how the application meets Cork County Council’s funding aims and objectives.
  • Applications will be evaluated under the following headings:
    • Artistic vision and ambition: They will assess the artistic rationale of the application.
    • Impact and benefit: They will assess the value of the proposed project to the target group as audience or participants.
    • Feasibility: They will assess the proposed budget and capacity of the applicant to manage and deliver the proposed activities or events.

For more information, visit Cork County Council.