Deadline: 05-May-2026
Culture Ireland is inviting applications to support Irish professional artists, arts organisations, and international presenters to showcase work by Irish artists at major international venues and festivals outside Ireland. The programme mainly funds travel and travel-related costs, helping Irish art reach global audiences, build international partnerships, and strengthen Ireland’s cultural presence worldwide.
Culture Ireland Funding at a Glance
Culture Ireland offers support for the international presentation of Irish art by helping artists and organisations cover essential costs linked to presenting work abroad.
The programme is designed to make it easier for Irish professional artists and arts organisations to take part in major international events, festivals, and venues while maintaining high professional standards.
Key focus areas:
- International presentation of Irish art
- Global cultural exchange
- Travel support for artists
- International festivals and venues
- Arts mobility funding
- International arts partnerships
- Cultural diplomacy
- Audience development abroad
What is the Culture Ireland Funding Programme?
The Culture Ireland funding programme supports the presentation of work by Irish professional artists at major international venues and festivals outside the island of Ireland.
Its main purpose is to ensure that Irish art can be presented successfully to international public audiences by covering the practical costs that often make overseas participation difficult.
The programme especially supports projects where international presenters or partners are actively involved in the event and contribute to artist fees, promotion, or presentation costs.
What Does the Funding Support?
The programme mainly covers travel and travel-related costs linked to presenting Irish artistic work internationally.
Eligible costs may include:
- Travel expenses
- Transport costs
- Freight or shipping
- Accommodation
- Subsistence or daily expenses
This support helps reduce the financial burden on artists and organisations so they can focus on delivering strong public presentations abroad.
Who is Eligible?
The programme is intended for:
- Irish professional artists
- Irish arts organisations
- International presenters working with Irish artists
Eligible projects must:
- Feature Irish professional artists or Irish arts organisations
- Represent an art form covered under the Arts Act 2003
- Take place at international venues, festivals, or events outside the island of Ireland
- Be presented to a public audience
- Include fees payable to the artists or organisations
- Meet professional presentation standards
Priority may be given to projects that:
- Involve strong international partners or presenters
- Include artist fees paid by the presenter or host
- Show clear promotion and presentation support from the international partner
- Demonstrate strong visibility and audience reach
What Kind of Projects Does Culture Ireland Want to Support?
Culture Ireland is looking for projects that showcase Irish artistic excellence internationally and help artists connect with audiences and industry professionals abroad.
Priority project characteristics include:
- Public presentation at a major international venue or festival
- Strong international partnership or host involvement
- Professional presentation quality
- Clear benefit to Irish artists or arts organisations
- Opportunity to build international reputation and future collaborations
- Support for audience engagement outside Ireland
Why This Funding Matters
This programme is important because international arts presentations often involve high travel and logistics costs that can limit participation.
By covering these costs, Culture Ireland helps ensure that Irish artists can take part in important international cultural events and reach new audiences.
Key benefits include:
- Greater international visibility for Irish artists
- Access to global audiences and markets
- Stronger international networks
- More opportunities for future collaborations
- Increased recognition of Irish arts abroad
- Enhanced cultural profile of Ireland internationally
How to Apply
Applicants should prepare a clear and professional proposal showing why the project deserves international presentation support.
Suggested application steps:
- Confirm eligibility
Make sure the project features Irish professional artists or arts organisations and will take place outside the island of Ireland. - Secure the international venue or festival
Confirm the invitation, presentation opportunity, or partnership with the international host. - Show public presentation value
Explain where the work will be presented, who the audience is, and why the venue or festival is significant. - Provide details of partner support
Highlight any artist fees, promotional help, or presentation costs covered by the international presenter. - Prepare a realistic travel budget
Include expected costs for travel, freight, accommodation, and subsistence. - Explain the international impact
Show how the project will strengthen visibility, reputation, and future opportunities for the artist or organisation.
Tips for Applicants
To strengthen your application:
- Apply only for clear international public presentations
- Highlight the importance of the venue or festival
- Show that the international presenter is committed
- Include evidence of artist fees or host support
- Keep the travel budget realistic and well justified
- Clearly explain the professional and cultural value of the opportunity
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid these common errors:
- Applying for projects that do not take place outside Ireland
- Submitting unclear or weak evidence of the international presentation
- Failing to show that the event is open to a public audience
- Omitting information about artist fees or presenter support
- Providing vague or inflated travel budgets
- Focusing only on the trip, rather than the artistic and professional impact
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who can apply for Culture Ireland support?
Eligible applicants include Irish professional artists, Irish arts organisations, and international presenters presenting work by Irish artists abroad.
2. What costs does the programme cover?
The programme mainly supports travel and travel-related costs, including transport, freight, accommodation, and subsistence.
3. Where must the event take place?
The project must take place at an international venue, festival, or event outside the island of Ireland.
4. Does the project need a public audience?
Yes. Eligible projects must be accessible to a public audience and meet professional presentation standards.
5. Are artist fees important?
Yes. Priority is given to projects where fees are payable to the artists or organisations, especially when supported by international partners or presenters.
6. What type of work is eligible?
The work must fall under an art form defined in the Arts Act 2003 and involve Irish professional artistic practice.
7. Why is this funding valuable?
It helps Irish artists and arts organisations overcome the financial barriers of international presentation, making it easier to reach global audiences and build long-term international opportunities.
Final Takeaway
The Culture Ireland funding programme is an important opportunity for Irish professional artists, arts organisations, and international presenters seeking to present Irish work at major international venues and festivals.
By supporting travel, accommodation, freight, and related presentation costs, the programme helps Irish artists expand their international reach, strengthen professional networks, and showcase Irish creativity on the global stage.
For more information, visit Culture Ireland.