The Arts Council launches a new scheme for funding
Small Arts Festivals and Events
Every year, hundreds of arts organisations including local festivals in every part of the country apply to the Arts Council for assistance in organising their artistic programme. In line with a range of improvements in its grant application processes this year, the Arts Council has introduced a new funding scheme to support Small Festivals and Events. For the first time, this scheme will be available to all small festivals (including festivals of traditional music), and not just those that are multi-disciplinary in nature.
The Small Festivals and Events Scheme 2004 is open to Festivals and Events wishing to apply for between €1,000 and €10,000. (Festivals making applications for funding in excess of €10,000 should apply for revenue funding using the standard application procedure, for which the deadline is 10th October 2003).
The Arts Council welcomes applications from new and established small festivals and events in all parts of the country. In the context of limited funds, grants will be prioritised to well-run organisations which promote artistic excellence, and which will develop audiences for the arts.
Grants under the Small Festivals and Events Scheme for 2004 will be made in two rounds, recognising that voluntary committees undertake much of the planning for local festivals. The organisers of small festivals and events should apply under this scheme, on or before one or other of these deadlines, rather than under the annual revenue grant process which is used for larger arts organisations.
The deadline for the first round of grants in this scheme (in the main, for festivals being planned for the earlier part of 2004) will be Friday 5 December 2003;
The deadline for the second round of grants in the scheme (in the main, for festivals being planned for the latter part of the year) will be Friday 12 March 2004.
Describing the Council’s aim in launching this new scheme, the Arts Council manager responsible, Andrea Corbett, says: “Under this new scheme, the Arts Council recognises the planning time that needs to go into a good local festival. The new deadlines will allow small festival committees to benefit from a longer lead in time for planning, and to provide better supporting information in applying for public funding support. We are particularly interested to see opportunities for professional artists, new programming ideas, and an energetic approach to building audiences.”
For further information and an application form for this scheme contact:
Regina O’Shea, Grants Assistant
Arts Programme Department
The Arts Council
70 Merrion Square
Dublin 2
01 6180 260 or regina@artscouncil.ie
