The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has opened the Creative Progression Scheme, delivered as part of its Support for Individual Artists Programme.

The scheme, previously known as the Minority Ethnic Artists Mentoring and Residency Scheme, is intended to support individual artists from minority ethnic and migrant backgrounds, including people in need of international protection. Support is available across all artistic disciplines and working practices.

Grants of up to £5,000 are available. The support is designed to enable residencies and mentoring activity, helping applicants develop their creative and professional practice. It can also contribute to related costs such as project assistance and travel.

Applicants must be aged over 18 and must have made a contribution to artistic activity in Northern Ireland for at least one year within the last five years.

Eligible applicants include individual artists, creative practitioners and arts administrators from minority ethnic and migrant backgrounds, as well as emerging artists. Practising artists who are also undergraduates, postgraduates or academics employed at third level educational institutions may apply, but where a proposal falls within the same artform area as their study or employment they must demonstrate that the costs requested are not the responsibility of their employer and are not related to their work or academic study.

Eligible artform areas can include visual art, craft, public art, theatre, drama and dance, literature, music, opera and traditional arts and community or participatory arts and arts in health.

The deadline for applications is 20 August 2026. For more information please visit National Lottery Minority Ethnic Artists Mentoring… | Arts Council NI