Deadline: 14-Aug-2025
Applications are now open for the National Lottery Artists’ International Development Fund, which supports early-stage international opportunities for individual, freelance, and self-employed artists, as well as organisations based in Northern Ireland. The goal is to promote artistic excellence and enhance Northern Ireland’s international reputation by enabling artists to take their work abroad.
Grants range from £1,000 to £7,000 and must support projects that take place between 1 November 2025 and 31 October 2026. Proposals can be across a wide variety of artforms, including combined arts, literature, music, drama, theatre, dance (including circus), visual arts, and craft.
The fund covers costs such as art materials, artist fees, travel, residencies, venue hire, and production costs. Technical and IT equipment are eligible within limits, with a maximum of £1,200 for PCs/laptops and £500 for tablets. Equipment costs cannot exceed 50% of the total request.
Projects that begin before the decision date, involve prolonged study, academic work, general living costs, insurance, or fundraising are not eligible. Commercial fashion projects, websites, non-arts podcasts, and most film/TV work are also excluded, except where the work is artist-led and innovative in form.
Collaborative projects are welcome, with one lead applicant responsible for managing the grant. Only one application should be submitted per collaborative project, and background on all participating artists must be provided.
Artists can use this fund to expand their practice internationally, build global connections, participate in residencies, and engage with new audiences abroad. The fund encourages emerging artists to apply—those in the early stages of their professional careers who are still establishing their artistic voice and reputation.
Eligible applicants include individual artists, small arts organisations, and collectives with a history of working together. Artists who are also students or academic staff may apply, but they must prove their project is independent of their academic duties or studies. This must be supported by formal documentation from their institution.
Applicants must live in Northern Ireland, be at least 18 years old, and not in secondary education. They should have contributed to the local arts scene for at least one year in the past five years and be able to show interest in their work from an international partner.
Applicants who have broken the terms of previous Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI) awards or received AIDF grants in 2023/24 or 2024/25 are ineligible. Students seeking support for academic-related projects or fees are also excluded. Small groups that cannot show a collaborative history are not eligible either.
The fund is designed to help artists grow internationally, create new partnerships, and raise the profile of Northern Irish art on the global stage.
For more information, visit Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
