Irish-language Theatre Production and Touring Award 2024 (Ireland)

The successful applicant will be required to work closely with an evaluator during the award period as part of an action research project. Please note that unsuccessful applicants may also be contacted by the evaluator for research purposes.

The award is open to individuals and/or entities with a demonstrable and successful track record in theatre practice based on the island of Ireland.

Applicants can be either Arts Council-funded organisations (e.g. production companies, arts centres, Strategically Funded organisations) or entities applying in collaboration with artists and/or in partnership with existing theatre organisations, arts centres or festivals where that partnership is additional to, and separate from, that organisation’s core activity.

Funding Information

• The maximum award available is €400,000.

Ineligible Activities

• Activities and costs that you may not apply for include the following:
  • To develop, produce or tour work that is not in the Irish language (this means the text needs to be a minimum of 90% in Irish)
  • Costs directly related to the touring of work outside the island of Ireland
  • Major capital purchases
  • Ongoing core costs
  • Activities or costs that do not fit the purpose of the award
  • Activities that are more suited to another award funded by the Arts Council or operated by other state agencies, such as Culture Ireland
  • Activities that have already taken place or which will have commenced before decisions are made on this process
  • Activities undertaken for charity-fundraising purposes, for participation in a competition, or for primarily profit-making purposes
  • Activities that have already been assessed by the Arts Council, unless you demonstrate that you have substantively developed the proposal since previously applying or if the Council has specifically advised you to redirect your application to this award. Please bear in mind that such advice is not an indication of a successful outcome

Who can apply?

• The award is open to organisations and individuals working professionally in theatre.
• To be eligible to apply, applicants must be based on the island of Ireland. Please note that applicants must clearly show how their application would benefit the arts in the Republic of Ireland. There are certain exceptions where the Arts Council may deem eligible applications made by those based outside the island of Ireland. However, before admitting as eligible any such application, the applicant would need to explicitly outline within the application how the outcomes of any such proposal would benefit the arts in the Republic of Ireland, and the Arts Council must be satisfied with same.
• Organisations currently in receipt of funding under Strategic Funding, Arts Centre Funding, Partnership Funding and Arts Grant Funding are eligible to apply – although the activity must be separate from activities already funded through the Arts Council of Ireland and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

Who can not apply?

• Applicants who cannot apply include the following:
  • Individuals or organisations that do not have a demonstrable track record as professional theatre artists or organisations.
  • Individuals currently in undergraduate education (including those undertaking foundation courses) or who will be during the period for which this award is offered.
  • You cannot apply for the award both as an individual and as part of an organisation or collective – e.g. you cannot apply as the artistic director or core member of a company/collective and also apply separately under your own name.
  • Please note that the focus of this award is to make theatre aimed at a general audience, and all applications should reflect this.

For more information, visit The Arts Council.