Foras na Gaeilge - Colmcille Small Grants Scheme

Small grants are available for organisations to support the research and planning of joint initiatives between the language communities of Irish and Scottish Gaeilge.

Colmcille operates through grant schemes and through facilitating and initiating projects. Funding addresses the following themes: the arts, young people, heritage, learning Scottish and Irish Gaelic, partnership and community development, and research.

In Scotland Bòrd na Gàidhlig supports an annual Colmcille grant scheme which specifically seeks to support projects that achieve the following:
• Promoting Gàidhlig and Irish use through the arts
• Using heritage to bring Gaelic-speaking communities together and raise the status of the Gaelic languages
• Bringing young speakers of Scottish and Irish Gaelic together through events or school projects
• Promoting dialogue and sharing of experiences and best practice between Scottish and Irish Gaelic speakers
• Supporting the learning of Irish Gaelic among Scottish Gaelic speakers

In Ireland Foras na Gaeilge, Colmcille opearates on a cross-border basis and has three grant schemes:
• The Colmcille Grant Scheme, for projects, which has two funding rounds per year
• The Colmcille small grant scheme for developing partnerships and projects, which is open continuously
• The Colmcille bursary scheme for Irish speakers learning Scottish Gaelic

Foras na Gaeilge application forms and guidelines are available here.

Health and Safety Capital Programme

The Arts Council has designed this programme to enable organisations to purchase equipment and/or carry out minor works to their premises which will address any health and safety issues or has been an outstanding maintenance issue which has rendered the space not fit for purpose. 

We want to support organisations across Northern Ireland to maintain their creative spaces addressing any issues that may hinder the work to take place.  We want to ensure that organisations have proper measures in place to welcome their staff, artists and audiences.  We also want to support organisations in their delivery of the arts in new and creative alternatives.

Particular priority will be given to equipment and minor works which:

• improves the accessibility of the arts;

• continues the safe practice for continued accessibility of the arts;

• improves the environment for the arts sector; and

• enhances or broadens the audience/participants’ experience.

Who can apply?

The Arts Council welcomes applications from the widest possible range of organisations and, in particular, from applicants whose projects benefit individuals categorised under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. In addition, in order to be eligible to apply to this programme, please note the following:

• You do not have to be primarily an arts organisation (for example, community groups may apply to the scheme), however, the purpose of the requested equipment and / or minor works must be clearly focussed on the arts.

• Local authorities are eligible to apply but they are a low priority.

• Registered charities and other fully constituted organisations which cannot distribute a profit are eligible to apply.

• Commercial organisations can only apply for support if the equipment and/or minor works is primarily for the benefit of the public rather than their own commercial interests.

• If your organisation has a limited membership you must show that the equipment and / or minor works will benefit the wider public.

• Groups of organisations (consortia) working together to deliver specific projects may apply.

What Can You Apply For?

You can apply for any equipment and / or minor works to help adapt your venue or working practice. This could be, but not limited to, the following:

• Creation of safe spaces

• New equipment / structures to enable delivery outdoors

• IT equipment to assist with remote working environments

• Software (pre-loaded operating systems and packages only)

• Accessibility equipment and minor works

• Works in relation to upgrading and maintaining existing systems

• Transport

For more information and to apply, please visit Health and Safety Capital Programme | Arts Council NI (artscouncil-ni.org)

Annual Funding Programme 2023/24

The aim of the Annual Funding Programme (AFP) is to support Northern Ireland’s arts infrastructure through grants to organisations in all artforms and practices for their core and programming costs. AFP organisations will be key to helping us achieve the objectives set out in our 5-year strategic framework for developing the arts, Inspire / Connect / Lead, and we expect all awardees to support us in delivering these objectives.

Who can apply?

• Non-profit distributing organisations which can demonstrate they require a year-round resource to deliver arts programming.

• Commercial organisations can only apply for support if the proposed programme is primarily for the benefit of the public and where there are plans to re-invest any surplus into a similar programme.

• New applicants to the Annual Funding Programme must have been in receipt of a single award of at least £10,001 from ACNI since 1 April 2020 in order to be eligible for the scheme and must contact the appropriate ACNI arts officer to discuss their application prior to submission and by 5pm on 10 February at the latest. Failure to make prior contact with the Arts Council before submitting an application will render your application ineligible.

What You Can Apply For

You can apply for one year funding only. Eligible costs include the following:

Core costs:
Administrative salaries
Rent and Rates
Light and Heat
Maintenance, security, etc.
Telephone and Fax
Printing, postage, stationery
Financial costs
Insurance

Programming costs:
Artists’ costs
Volunteer expenses
Audience Development plans
Publicity/Marketing (excluding catering/merchandising)
Transportation
Travel, Accommodation, Subsistence
Equipment/Materials
Access/Participation Plans

Premium Payments:
An amount of up to £3,000 each year is available within the grant (i.e. to be included and potentially awarded as an element of your budget and request amount) for successful applicants who can clearly demonstrate that additional costs are associated with the delivery of their project for people with particular needs as defined under Section 75 of The Northern Ireland Act 1998. Please note that premium payments are made retrospectively on submission of evidence of demonstrated use of the services.

Deadline for applications: Friday 17th February 2023 at 12pm

For more information and to apply, please visit Annual Funding Programme | Arts Council of Northern Ireland (artscouncil-ni.org)

Arts Council of Northern Ireland

The programme aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people by engagement in high quality arts. Grants up to £10,000 are available. You can apply for up to 100% of the eligible costs of the project. Projects can be up to 1 year duration.

OBJECTIVES

• To improve emotional, physical and social wellbeing of participants

• To enable participants express opinions or feeling using an arts-based methods

• Realise an improvement in wider services for young people with mental health issues

• Empower communities to take a more pro-active role in promoting mental health and wellbeing

• Reduce stigma associated with mental health and wellbeing through improved education

• Support and promote help seeking behavior amongst participants

Projects should aim to include young people experiencing higher levels of disadvantage or exclusion and may include more vulnerable groups such as those living with a mental health condition, eating disorders or addiction. 

STRATEGIC THEMES OF THE PROGRAMME

Projects must meet one or more of the Strategic Themes identified for the programme:

1. Improving and maintaining mental health and wellbeing for young people;

2. Raising awareness of mental and emotional wellbeing issues facing young people;

3. Providing a voice for young people;

4. Address stigma and challenge prejudice and discrimination associated with mental health and help seeking behavior.

THEY ARE LOOKING FOR PROJECTS WHICH:

• Have been developed through consultation with young people;

• Support best practice in working with young people through creative activities;

• Consider legacy and sustainability;

• Consider scale of impact;

• Consider advocacy;

WHO CAN APPLY?

The programme is aimed at constituted community and voluntary groups who are working at a local level to support young people and can demonstrate strong partnership working with relevant groups working with young people.

This programme is also open to non-governmental organisations, Local Authorities and arts organisations who can clearly demonstrate partnership working.

HOW MUCH CAN YOU APPLY FOR?

Grants up to £10,000 are available.

You can apply for up to 100% of the eligible costs of the project. Projects can be up to 1 year duration.

Application Deadline 12pm (noon) on 11 Oct 2022
You must apply using their online system on their website. They will not accept applications in hard copy or by email.

Small Grants 2022-23 Tranche 2 now open

Belfast City Council’s Small Grants 2022-23 Tranche 2 are now open for applications for the grants listed below. The submission deadline for receipt of applications is 12 noon on Friday 23 September 2022.

1. Arts and Heritage Project Grant

2. Parks Events Grant

3. S4S Small Development Grant

4. S4S Hospitality Grant

5. S4S Sporting Individual Grant

For guidance notes and to apply online please visit www.belfastcity-grants.com

Belfast City Council will be holding short online information sessions on Thursday 11 August at 10:00 am and Friday 12 August at 2:00 pm on how to apply. To attend, please email cgugrants@BelfastCity.gov.uk

Communities Minister Launches £1.5m Support Fund for Arts Sector

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey MLA has announced funding of £1.5m to support individuals and organisations in the Arts Sector in response to COVID-19.

‘The Creative Support Fund’, has been created to provide financial support for a diverse range of performing artists and community art organisations.

Individual artists and creative practitioners, who have lost their work as a result of COVID-19, can apply for funding of up to £5,000 to take new and innovative approaches in continuing to provide their talents and services to audiences, particularly those facing barriers to the arts.

Small and medium-sized organisations will be able to apply for maximum funding of £25,000 to help them develop new projects or programmes or re-arrange events which have had to be cancelled during the COVID-19 period.

Minister Hargey said:

“These two programmes will provide a significant and welcome source of assistance to individuals and organisations in the Arts Sector, which plays a crucial role in our economy and contributes greatly to the mental wellbeing of our communities.

“As a result of this pandemic they do not have opportunities to work in their usual way that is why I am pleased to be able to support them through this ‘Creative Support Fund’. It will provide them with the means to find different ways of engaging with audiences across a range of platforms and ensure arts services are not withdrawn from the public at this crucial time.”

The Creative Support Fund will be administered by the Arts Council NI who are contributing £500k of Lottery Funding to the initiative. The Individual Artists and Creative Practitioners Programme will be available immediately.

To find out more about the criteria and to apply, visit www.artscouncil-ni.org