Apply for Arts Act Grants – Ireland

Deadline: 15 March 2024

Apply for the Arts Act Grant that permits a local authority to assist with money, or in kind, events or activities which would, in the opinion of the local authority: stimulate public interest in the arts, promote knowledge, appreciation and practice of the arts or improve the standards of the arts within its functional area.

In this Act ‘the arts’ means any creative or interpretative expression (whether traditional or contemporary) in whatever form, and includes, in particular, visual arts, theatre, literature, music, dance, opera, film, circus and architecture, and includes any medium when used for those purposes.

Funding Information

Grants will range from €150 to €3000.
They may consider awarding additional funding to an application, but only under exceptional circumstances and if budget allows.

Eligibility Criteria

Assistance will be given only in respect of a project or event which, when held would, in the opinion of Mayo County Council, stimulate public interest in the Arts, promote knowledge, appreciation and practice of the arts or assist in improving the standard of the Arts in the County.
The scheme is open to groups, organisations, festivals in the county seeking support toward the cost of arts events/projects/activities. Applications from individuals are not eligible for funding.
Groups/Organisations seeking assistance under this Grant Scheme must be based in County Mayo and all events/projects/activities must take place within the County.
The criterion applied in assessing applications will be the contribution the proposed activity/event/project will make to the Arts in County Mayo. The quality of the event will be taken into account.
Funding received from other sources will be taken into account e.g., Municipal District Funding, Arts Council, Creative Ireland etc.
Mayo County Council must be acknowledged in all promotional material relating to the project/event. Failure to do this may risk withdrawal of funding.
Groups & Organisations who already receive funding from Mayo County Council Arts Service are ineligible to apply for support through Arts Act. E.g., Arts Organisations receiving Partnership Funding, UPSTART Projects, Culture Night Events etc.
Mayo County Council will not provide assistance in respect of commercial activities.
Mayo County Council will not provide assistance for ongoing revenue costs or assistance to cover loans/deficits of any Groups/Organisations.
Mayo County Council will not provide assistance for ongoing training, classes or workshops.
Mayo County Council will not provide assistance in respect of catering/refreshments/alcoholic beverages.
Mayo County Council will not fund charity fund raising events, nor those which are primarily competitive in nature, nor cover the costs of uniforms, commemorative events, craft events, heritage or oral history projects, artists materials, equipment or any kind of capital costs.
In certain instances, it may be decided that the group/organisation seeking a Grant would benefit more from advice/help/capacity building through workshops/than it would from direct financial assistance. Where an applicant would benefit from another Grant Scheme available through the Mayo County Council, they will be advised accordingly.
Events such as School Concerts/Summer Camps will not be considered a priority in the allocation of funding.
Mayo County Council particularly welcomes new applicants who represent the diversity of Irish society. They encourage applications from all areas of the community regardless of your gender, sexual orientation, civil or family status, religion, age, disability, race or membership of the Traveler Community, or socio-economic background.