Deadline: 03-Sep-2026
Strategic Funding 2027 by the Arts Council supports key arts organisations in Ireland by strengthening their sustainability, capacity, governance, and ability to deliver high-quality arts experiences. The programme invests in organisations that play an important role in leading, sustaining, and developing the arts.
The funding supports core operating costs and organisational activities, including arts programmes, services, events, creative opportunities, and planned touring activities in 2027. Applications are assessed based on artistic quality, engagement, organisational capacity, importance to arts infrastructure, and equality, diversity and inclusion.
What is Strategic Funding 2027?
Strategic Funding 2027 is an Arts Council funding programme for key arts organisations in Ireland.
The programme supports organisations that deliver high-quality arts experiences, activities, services, events, and opportunities for artists and the public.
It is designed to strengthen the sustainability and development of arts organisations that contribute significantly to Ireland’s arts infrastructure.
Main Purpose of Strategic Funding
The main purpose of Strategic Funding is to support arts organisations that play a central role in developing, sustaining, and leading the arts in Ireland.
The programme aims to:
- Support excellent artwork, events, activities, and services
- Increase public access to the arts
- Strengthen organisational sustainability
- Support high-quality artistic programming
- Create opportunities for artists and arts professionals
- Improve governance and management standards
- Promote fair pay and fair practice
- Advance equality, diversity, and inclusion
- Reflect the diversity of contemporary Ireland
What the Funding Supports
Strategic Funding supports the core operating costs and activities of eligible arts organisations.
Funding may support:
- Organisational activities
- Arts programmes
- Events and public activities
- Services for artists and audiences
- Creative development opportunities
- Planned touring activities in 2027
- Organisational development
- Governance and management capacity
- Activities that increase public engagement with the arts
International Activities
International activities may be considered where they support people, artists, or the arts in Ireland.
Such activities should include contributions from overseas partners.
Applicants should clearly explain how international work benefits the arts in Ireland and supports the organisation’s strategic role.
Who is Eligible?
The programme is open to eligible arts organisations.
Applicants must be formally constituted as either:
- A Company Limited by Guarantee
- A Designated Activity Company
Organisations must apply in their own name.
Applicants must also have previously received Arts Council funding, either directly or through a key person involved in the organisation.
Key Priorities
Strategic Funding 2027 supports organisations that contribute to artistic quality, access, inclusion, and sector development.
Key priorities include:
- Delivering excellent artistic work
- Supporting artists and arts professionals
- Creating high-quality public arts experiences
- Increasing audience and community engagement
- Reflecting contemporary Ireland’s diversity
- Strengthening arts organisations
- Supporting fair pay and fair practice
- Improving governance and management
- Advancing equality, diversity, and inclusion
- Supporting the wider arts infrastructure
Artist and Arts Professional Development
The programme supports organisations that create meaningful opportunities for artists and arts professionals.
This may include opportunities to:
- Develop artistic practice
- Engage in high-quality work
- Collaborate with other artists or organisations
- Reach wider audiences
- Build professional experience
- Participate in ambitious creative programmes
Public Engagement and Access
Strategic Funding aims to enable more people to enjoy high-quality arts experiences.
Applicants should show how their work will:
- Reach audiences
- Engage communities
- Improve access to the arts
- Encourage participation
- Remove barriers where possible
- Deliver meaningful public benefit
Governance and Organisational Capacity
The programme places importance on excellent standards in governance and management.
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Strong leadership
- Good financial management
- Clear planning
- Organisational capacity
- Effective governance structures
- Ability to deliver proposed activities
- Sustainability and development planning
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Strategic Funding 2027 asks organisations to demonstrate meaningful commitments to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Applicants should show how their organisation and activities support:
- Accessibility
- Inclusion
- Diversity in artistic work
- Fair participation
- Representation of contemporary Ireland
- Engagement with diverse communities
- Equitable opportunities for artists and arts workers
Fair Pay and Fair Practice
The programme promotes fair pay and fair practice for artists and freelance arts workers.
Applicants should show how they will support fair working conditions and responsible professional practice within their activities.
This may include clear fee structures, ethical engagement, and fair treatment of freelance contributors.
Required Supporting Materials
Applicants must submit supporting materials with their application.
Required materials may include:
- Arts Activity Report
- Information on current activities
- Information on planned activities
- Financial information
- Projected accounts
- Detailed budgets
- Other relevant documents depending on the organisation’s work
Additional materials may be required for activities involving:
- Disability access costs
- Vulnerable people
- Animals
- Children and young people
Assessment Criteria
Applications are assessed under five main criteria.
These are:
- Artistic quality and development of the arts
- Engagement
- Organisational capacity
- Importance to arts infrastructure
- Equality, diversity and inclusion
Artistic Quality and Development of the Arts
This criterion considers the quality, ambition, and relevance of the organisation’s artistic work.
Assessment may consider whether the organisation can:
- Deliver excellent artistic work
- Support the development of the arts
- Create meaningful artistic opportunities
- Contribute to high-quality arts practice
- Support artists and arts professionals
Engagement
This criterion considers how the organisation engages audiences, communities, participants, and the public.
Assessment may consider:
- Public access to the arts
- Audience development
- Community engagement
- Participation opportunities
- Relevance to target audiences
- Quality of engagement activities
Organisational Capacity
This criterion considers whether the organisation has the ability to deliver its proposed activities effectively.
Assessment may consider:
- Governance
- Financial management
- Staffing and leadership
- Planning
- Risk management
- Delivery experience
- Sustainability
Importance to Arts Infrastructure
This criterion considers the organisation’s role in Ireland’s wider arts ecosystem.
Assessment may consider whether the organisation:
- Supports artists or arts workers
- Provides important services or opportunities
- Contributes to sector development
- Strengthens regional or national arts provision
- Plays a leadership or specialist role
- Supports long-term arts infrastructure
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
This criterion considers how the organisation demonstrates meaningful commitment to inclusion, access, and representation.
Assessment may consider:
- Accessibility measures
- Inclusive programming
- Diversity of artists and audiences
- Support for under-represented groups
- Equitable organisational practice
- Reflection of contemporary Ireland
Key Concepts Explained
Strategic Funding
Strategic Funding is long-term organisational support for arts organisations that play an important role in delivering, sustaining, and developing the arts.
Arts Infrastructure
Arts infrastructure refers to the organisations, services, venues, networks, programmes, and professional supports that help the arts sector function and grow.
Core Operating Costs
Core operating costs are the regular costs needed to run an organisation, such as staffing, administration, programme delivery, governance, planning, and organisational management.
Public Engagement
Public engagement means creating opportunities for people to experience, participate in, or connect with the arts.
Fair Practice
Fair practice means treating artists and arts workers professionally, including fair pay, clear agreements, respectful working conditions, and ethical collaboration.
How to Apply
Applicants should prepare a complete application that clearly explains the organisation’s role, activities, artistic quality, public engagement, and strategic value.
Suggested Application Steps
- Confirm that the organisation is formally constituted as a CLG or DAC.
- Confirm that the organisation is applying in its own name.
- Confirm previous Arts Council funding history.
- Prepare an Arts Activity Report covering current and planned activities.
- Prepare financial information, projected accounts, and detailed budgets.
- Explain the organisation’s artistic programme and public engagement plans.
- Show how the organisation supports artists and arts professionals.
- Demonstrate governance, management, and financial capacity.
- Explain the organisation’s importance to Ireland’s arts infrastructure.
- Address equality, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and fair practice.
- Include any additional required documents for specific activities.
- Submit the application according to the Arts Council’s official requirements.
Expected Results
Strategic Funding 2027 is expected to support strong, sustainable, and impactful arts organisations.
Expected results may include:
- High-quality arts experiences for the public
- Stronger organisational sustainability
- Better opportunities for artists and arts professionals
- Increased public access to the arts
- Stronger audience and community engagement
- Improved governance and management
- Greater diversity and inclusion in arts programming
- Stronger contribution to Ireland’s arts infrastructure
- Fairer working conditions for artists and freelance arts workers
Why It Matters
Arts organisations play a vital role in shaping cultural life, supporting artists, engaging communities, and giving the public access to creative experiences.
Strategic Funding helps key organisations plan, deliver, and sustain high-quality work.
By supporting core activities and organisational development, the programme strengthens Ireland’s wider arts sector and helps ensure that more people can experience and participate in the arts.
Tips for Strong Applications
A strong application should clearly show the organisation’s artistic value, public benefit, and strategic role in the arts sector.
Applicants should focus on:
- Clear artistic vision
- Strong record of delivery
- High-quality current and planned activities
- Clear audience and community engagement
- Strong governance and management
- Realistic budgets and projected accounts
- Meaningful support for artists
- Fair pay and fair practice
- Clear contribution to arts infrastructure
- Strong equality, diversity, and inclusion commitments
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should carefully review eligibility and supporting material requirements before applying.
Common mistakes include:
- Applying without being formally constituted as a CLG or DAC
- Not applying in the organisation’s own name
- Failing to show previous Arts Council funding history
- Submitting incomplete financial information
- Providing unclear projected accounts
- Not including a detailed budget
- Providing weak evidence of artistic quality
- Not explaining public engagement clearly
- Overlooking governance and management expectations
- Treating equality, diversity, and inclusion as an add-on rather than a core commitment
FAQ
What is Strategic Funding 2027?
Strategic Funding 2027 is an Arts Council funding programme that supports key arts organisations in Ireland to deliver high-quality arts experiences, services, activities, and opportunities.
Who can apply?
Organisations formally constituted as a Company Limited by Guarantee or a Designated Activity Company may apply if they meet the programme’s eligibility requirements.
What does the funding support?
The funding supports core operating costs and organisational activities, including programmes, events, services, creative opportunities, and planned touring activities in 2027.
Can international activities be supported?
Yes. International activities may be considered where they support people, artists, or the arts in Ireland and include contributions from overseas partners.
What supporting materials are required?
Applicants must submit materials such as an Arts Activity Report, financial information, projected accounts, detailed budgets, and other relevant documents depending on their activities.
How are applications assessed?
Applications are assessed based on artistic quality and development of the arts, engagement, organisational capacity, importance to arts infrastructure, and equality, diversity and inclusion.
Does the programme support fair pay?
Yes. Strategic Funding promotes fair pay and fair practice for artists and freelance arts workers.
Conclusion
Strategic Funding 2027 by the Arts Council supports key arts organisations that contribute to the development, sustainability, and public value of the arts in Ireland. By funding core operating costs and organisational activities, the programme helps organisations deliver excellent artistic work, support artists, engage audiences, and strengthen arts infrastructure.
Strong applications will demonstrate artistic quality, public engagement, organisational capacity, strategic importance, fair practice, and meaningful commitments to equality, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.
For more information, visit The Arts Council.