Arts Council Northern Ireland

You can apply for arts activities that last up to one year and which help to address the aims of the programme above. These can include the following:

- Projects, events and programmes of activity together with related overhead costs associated with the delivery of the project/event or programme

- Projects which contribute to the growth of the work force and/or artistic development through mentoring programmes or opportunities.

- Projects which promote mental Health and well-being for all participants

- Projects which have sustainable development at their core, or which address environmental issues.

- Accessibility costs: these are costs associated with the delivery of a project for people with particular needs as defined under Section 75 of The Northern Ireland Act 1998, e.g. sign language interpretation, Braille paperwork, transport costs, carer costs.

- Continuation of salaries of existing administrative and/or arts posts

- New work commissions and Productions in all artforms

- Research and Development

- Audience Development – to meet the needs of audiences and to help arts organisations develop ongoing relationships with diverse audiences

- Touring (in more than one local authority area)

- Presentations or exhibitions (in more than one local authority area) of work by artists and arts organisations, which develop opportunities for audiences to attend international events in NI which they might not otherwise see.

- Projects which are planned to reach significant audiences through ‘live’, ‘as live’ or recorded digital performance, publication, broadcast, reading, recording, and/or other audience channels

- Modest requests for capital equipment, website design and upkeep costs and digital platform development will be assessed on a case by case basis and these must be integral to project design and/or delivery and/or specific project costs.

Further information: https://artscouncil-ni.org/funding-for-organisations/national-lottery-project-funding

Guidance notes: https://artscouncil-ni.s3-assets.com/National-Lottery-Project-Funding-Programme-2025-26-Guidance-Notes_2025-05-08-162126_usbv.pdf

Application portal: https://www2.grantrequest.co.uk/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fapplication.aspx%3fsid%3d147%26fid%3d35323&sid=147&fid=35323