Three organisations in Mayo to receive nearly €500k as part of Arts Council funding

The Arts Council has announced its first round of funding decisions for 2025, awarding 175 arts organisations, arts centres and arts studios grants amounting to €68.5 million.

These grants will support arts organisations and centres to support and develop the arts nationwide.   

A total of 104 arts organisations received grants through the Strategically Funded programme, totaling €57.7 million. This funding programme is for organisations who make a significant impact to arts infrastructure in Ireland and have a national or regional reach.

These organisations support a variety of art forms including music, literature, theatre, dance, film and much more.   

41 arts centres were awarded a total of €10 million in this round of funding, which will support the running of each centre. In addition, 30 Art Studio Spaces will receive €746,000 in funding grants, providing a workspace for 1,117 Visual Artists in 15 counties. 

In Mayo, three organisations will benefit from first round grant support. Ballina Arts Centre (€82,000) and Linenhall Arts Centre (€290,000) will receive support through Arts Centre Funding.

The Visual Artists Workspace Scheme will support 150 artists via funding Custom House Studios Ltd (€31,415). 

Applications for funding to the Arts Council are continuing to rise with an unprecedented amount of grant support sought, now at 245% that of 2019 levels. The gap between the amount of funding offered and the amount requested is also at a record level.   

In its 2025 awards, the Arts Council will prioritise support to the arts organisational infrastructure, while continuing its investment in individual artists, focusing on those not previously supported by the organisation in line with its inclusion objectives.  

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Chair of the Arts Council, Maura McGrath said:

“The Art Council’s budget for 2025 will be used to support, strengthen and help develop arts organisations across the country. This first round of funding decisions for 2025 will help allow artists, audiences and communities to come together through the unifying power of art.

“However, we recognise the difficulties and challenges that the current level of available funding brings. We commit to advocating for increased funding for our sector.”  

Maureen Kennelly, Director of the Arts Council, commented, 

“Grant supports are vital to the continued growth and development of the arts in Ireland. These funding decisions will help ensure that organisations throughout the country are empowered to realise compelling visions across all artforms.

“This financial support will allow people of all ages and backgrounds to engage with and experience the very best of the arts in our country.”   

All recipients of this funding will play a role in sustaining and developing the arts in Ireland. These organisations, centres and studios provide an organisational infrastructure for the arts sector and have been awarded grants following an application process and in line with Arts Council strategic goals.

Specific criteria against which applications from organisations are assessed are artistic quality and development of the arts, public engagement, organisational capacity, the importance of the organisation in the arts infrastructure and their commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.     

• In 2025 there will be 33 direct grant schemes, all are open and competitive.   
• In 2024, as part of its work programme, the Arts Council provided grant support through its schemes to: 1880 individuals, 588 organisations, 318 schools, 201 projects, 140 festivals, 31 local authorities, 19 Creative Places (communities).