Kildare County Council Arts Service invites applications to the Kildare Arts Act Grant Scheme 2024. The Arts Act Grant aims to provide financial assistance to individual artists, art groups and community projects engaged in arts practice or projects/events at local or county level in Kildare.
For the purposes of this award ‘arts’ is any creative or interpretative expression in any form, and includes visual arts, theatre, literature, music, dance, opera, film, circus and architecture, in any medium. Arts Act Grants will be awarded for a specific body of work, project, exhibition, activity or event that will stimulate public interest in the arts, provide knowledge and appreciation of the arts, encourage practice of the arts, or assist in improving the standard and development of the arts in the county.
Applications are welcome from individual artists, art groups, and community projects for activities taking place in 2024.
We welcome applicants who represent the diversity of Irish society. We 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 Traveller Community, or socio-economic background.
We welcome applications from artists whose first language is not English.
Applicants must demonstrate the benefit of the proposed activity for which they are seeking funding to a) county Kildare and b) yourself / your group.
Although not an obligatory requirement, applicants might consider demonstrating how their proposed activity addresses the themes of climate change and climate action.
Although not an obligatory requirement, applicants might consider demonstrating how their proposed activity addresses the themes of inclusivity, equality and cultural diversity.
Kildare County Council is committed to fair pay and a policy to Pay the Artist. Please refer to the Arts Council's policy on
Paying the Artist when valuing your time as an artist and those collaborating with you.
Your attention is also drawn to
safetocreate.ie, where you will find more information about the Safe to Create Dignity at Work programme which aims to impact change on the culture and practices of the arts sector in Ireland to provide safer working conditions for artists and arts workers.
Applications can be made for Arts Act Grant awards up to €2,500. Awards will be granted up to this amount, however applicants to the Arts Act Grant should note that the average grant awarded in 2023 was €1,117. The minimum grant awarded was €300; the maximum was €2,500.
Application deadline
Applications will only be accepted via the online application form.
Applications must be submitted before the deadline at 12pm Wednesday 28th February 2024.
Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
We suggest that applicants try to submit their application form early in case of technical difficulties. Should they arise, please email arts@kildarecoco.ie and we will endeavour to respond as soon as possible.
Supporting Material
It is advantageous to include supporting material that enhances your application. Applicants should not assume that the independent assessment panel are familiar with your work or your previous funding history. The panel will use the supporting material to get a better understanding of both your track record and that of your creative collaborators, and the feasibility of your proposal.
Information Session
Kildare County Council Arts Service will host a number of Information Sessions in locations throughout the county about applying for arts grants and bursary awards with Kildare County Council. Sessions will be of particular interest to individual artists, art collectives, community groups, youth groups and schools who intend to apply for Arts Grants from Kildare County Council in 2024.
Information Sessions:
Please note that information imparted at each session will be the same - there is no need to register to attend all 3 sessions. All are welcome to attend this FREE session, but booking is recommended.
In addition, an information video will be made available via Kildare Arts Service’s
YouTube and social media channels from Monday 22nd January 2024.
If you need help to complete and submit your application we want to hear from you. Please email or call the Arts Service team at least three weeks before the award deadline, or as early as possible, to give us time to assist you. Email: arts@kildarecoco.ie / Tel: 045 980872.