The Arts Council has announced its latest funding allocations under its 2026 development programme, awarding a total of  €72.3 million to 148 arts organisations, arts centres, local authorities and creative initiatives nationwide.

As part of the announcement, organisations based in County Mayo will receive a combined total of €477,000 in funding for 2026.

Three Mayo-based recipients have been confirmed. Ballina Arts Centre has been awarded €82,000, the Linenhall Arts Centre will receive €290,000, and Mayo County Council has been allocated €105,000.

The Arts Council said the funding represents more than half of its annual investment and is aimed at supporting organisations and partners that provide local and national infrastructure for the arts. The programme is designed to enable artists to realise their creative vision while supporting access to arts experiences for audiences across the country.

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In addition to direct funding for Mayo-based organisations, the Arts Council noted that all counties benefit from organisations with a national remit that are headquartered elsewhere.

These include bodies such as Arts and Disability Ireland, Irish National Opera, Na Píobairí Uilleann Teoranta, Children’s Books Ireland and Dance Ireland.

In relation to the recent announcement of allocation, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, said public investment through grant funding is essential to sustaining and developing the arts across every part of Ireland:

“These awards support artists and organisations to realise ambitious creative work across all artforms, while ensuring that people of all ages and backgrounds have meaningful opportunities to engage with the arts in their everyday lives.” 

Director of the Arts Council, Moling Ryan, added that the Arts Council is prioritising support for arts organisations across Ireland, enabling them to sustain their work and plan confidently for the year ahead. 

“These funding decisions for 2026 will support artists, audiences and communities to come together through shared creative experiences and meaningful cultural activity.”  

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