Grants and Funding

Arts and Cultural Enhancement Support Scheme

Grants and Funding

Current Schemes

  • Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016 – 2018

In January 2016, the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys TD, announced a new €9m Capital investment scheme for arts and culture centres. The scheme will run from 2016-2018 and is focused on enhancing the existing stock of arts and culture centres throughout the country. Streams 1 and 2 of this scheme have now closed (see below under Previous Schemes). Applications are now being invited for funding under Stream 3 of this Scheme which will offer up to €20,000 to Not for Profit organisations with an Arts & Culture remit. The funding for this scheme is being made available as part of the Capital Investment Framework 2016-2021.

The application form and guidelines for Stream 3 are available at the below links. All applications, including supporting documentation should be with the Department no later than 12.00pm on 16 June 2017.

Guidelines Stream 3 Arts & Capital Scheme 2016-2018

Application Form Stream 3 Arts & Culture Capital Scheme 2016-2018

Previous Schemes

  • Creative Ireland Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016

In January 2016, the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys TD, announced a new €9m Capital investment scheme for arts and culture centres. The scheme will run from 2016-2018 and is focused on enhancing the existing stock of arts and culture centres throughout the country. Streams 1 and 2 closed for applications in September 2016, and awards were announced in February 2017.

List of successful applicants is available here

Guidelines Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016
Application form STREAM 1 Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016
Application form STREAM 2 Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016
Frequently Asked Questions

  • Arts and Culture Small Capital Grants Scheme 2015

The Minister for Arts, Heritage Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Ms Heather Humphreys TD, has launched details of the Arts and Culture Small Capital Grants Scheme 2015 administered by her Department.
The Arts and Culture Small Capital Grants Scheme is designed to support arts and culture organisations that operate as not-for-profit institutions across the country. Applications for dedicated arts or culture projects from other not-for-profit organisations will also be accepted. This year, the scheme will allow for the funding of small capital projects of up to €10,000, to meet up to 70% of costs of capital projects. Funding of €300,000 is being made available under the scheme.
Projects funded under the Scheme must seek to meet a specific cultural need to support the Department of Arts, Heritage Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in the delivery of its objective to nurture and develop Irish artistic and creative talent and enhance access to the arts.
Funding will only be awarded to projects which meet all of the relevant criteria. All projects proposed should be creative and innovative and meet one or more of the following objectives:

  • An investment which benefits several arts and culture organisations;
  • An investment in equipment that would reduce the annual running cost of an arts or culture facility;
  • An investment which would have a positive impact on the environment, for example a reduction in energy consumption;
  • Expenditure which is applied to address health and safety issues;
  • An investment to improve organisations’ efficiency or its effectiveness;
  • An investment to increase or extend the use of the facility for example to voluntary and community groups;
  • An investment which would increase audience numbers or improve and extend access to, or participation in, the arts within the catchment area of a facility;
  • An investment which would contribute to financial viability for a facility, and the capacity of the facility to be self-financing, into the future;
  • An investment which would add a new dimension to or improve the capability of the facility to stage or support arts activities, or improve facilities and workspaces for artists;
  • An investment at the cutting-edge of technology which has potential to improve arts and culture facilities or access to the arts and culture.

Application forms and further information on the Arts and Culture Small Capital Grants Scheme 2015 is available on the Department’s website 
The closing date for receipt of all applications is 2nd September 2015.

2015 Grant Recipients

  • Grants for Arts And Culture Infrastructure

The current scheme called ACCESS II (Arts and Culture Capital Enhancement Support Scheme II) administered by the Department of Arts, Heritage Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs runs from 2007 to 2009. ACCESS II is designed to assist the provision of high standard arts and culture infrastructure, thereby enhancing access to the arts throughout the country and is intended to provide a further impetus to the development of arts and culture facilities, thereby enhancing the quality of life for our citizens. While the intention is to prioritise the enhancement and maintenance of existing facilities, there is also provision under the terms of the scheme to support new build projects.

A total of 67 projects received capital funding of €32m under the current ACCESS II scheme. The objective of the scheme is to prioritise the enhancement and maintenance of existing facilities, and accordingly 70% of the funds available under the scheme are directed towards the enhancement and/or refurbishment of existing facilities, with 30% for new facilities.

Projects supported included the provision of new integrated art centres, theatres and studio space and the refurbishment of existing performance spaces. It has been widely acknowledged as a significant intervention in the provision of quality cultural space throughout the regions.

List of Successful ACCESS Projects

List of Successful ACCESS II Projects

  • Grants from Culture Ireland

Culture Ireland is the division of the Department responsible for the promotion of Irish arts and artists overseas.

Culture Ireland creates and supports opportunities for Irish artists and companies to present their work at strategic international showcases, festivals, venues and arts markets and support artists right across the creative spectrum including visual art, theatre, literature, music, dance, opera and film.

Further information on Culture Ireland and its grant programme is available on www.cultureireland.ie

For further information, contact:

Culture Ireland, Department of Arts, Heritage Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Room 3.15, Kildare St, Dublin 2
Tel: (+353 1) 631 3905, 3994, 3917
Fax: (+353 1) 6313956
Email: info@cultureireland.ie

  • Business Expansion Scheme for Music

The Business Expansion Scheme for Music gives tax relief to investors in new and emerging commercial musical acts or groups. The Minister for Arts, Heritage Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs decides whether a project should be certified as eligible for such relief. Certification requires that the act in question has not had sales in excess of 5,000 albums either as a solo artist or as a member of a band.

Guidelines have been agreed between the Minister for Arts, Heritage Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and the Minister for Finance and are intended to outline the criteria to be used in certifying suitable projects for the purposes of this tax relief.

Applicants are advised to familiarise themselves regarding the full requirements of the Business Expansion Scheme. Further details relating to the overall operation of the BES as provided for in the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 are available on the Revenue website. The Revenue information note is attached.

You can download a copy of the Guidelines document in Irish or in English, by clicking on the relevant link below:

Business Expansion Scheme (BES)

BES for Music –  Guidelines, Terms and Conditions

For further information:
Tel: (+353 1) 631 3954

  • Cultural Development Expenditure

Cultural Development Expenditure 2016

Cultural Development Expenditure 2015

Cultural Development Expenditure 2014

Cultural Development Expenditure 2013

Cultural Development Expenditure 2012

Cultural Development Expenditure 2011

Cultural Development Expenditure 2010

Cultural Development Expenditure 2009

Philanthropy Initiative