Deadline: 24-Jul-25
The Arts Council is accepting nominations for the Visual Arts Project Award to support specific artistic projects in visual arts.
It focuses on enabling individual artists and organisations to bring their ideas to fruition and create excellent artistic work.
Strands
- Strand 1: Planning and Pre-production
- The purpose of the Planning and Pre-production strand is to support artists, curators, producers or eligible organisations to research, prepare and confirm plans for new, ambitious visual artwork that will be presented in the future. This strand supports the development and preparation of a project or commission rather than its public presentation or outcome. Strand 1 is for the initial phase of a project.
- Priority in this strand will be given to proposals that:
- Demonstrate a capacity to deliver a specific project or commission outcome in the future providing project plans, timelines, proposed collaborators and/or partners
- Demonstrate plans for the projects production, presentation and engagement with the public
- Build relationships, partnerships and collaborations towards a specific ambitious project or commission
- Secure permission for art in public spaces, unconventional sites and venues
- Support the process of art-making, producing and commissioning.
- Strand 2: Production and Engagement
- The purpose of the Production and Engagement strand is to support the producing and commissioning of ambitious projects in the visual arts, focusing on presentation and engagement with the public.
- Projects that specifically aim to enhance and extend the publics experience of, and involvement with, visual arts will be prioritised. These projects can take place in a public space, a gallery setting, festivals and unconventional sites and venues. Strand 2 is for the final phase of a project.
- Priority in this strand will be given to proposals that:
- Create and present work that is ambitious in its vision and execution
- Focus on the publics experience of the visual arts
- Produce art commissions, collaborations and partnerships
- Present visual art to the public in alternative and innovative settings.
- Strand 3: Partnership Production and Engagement
- The purpose of the Partnership Production and Engagement strand is to support the producing and commissioning of ambitious projects in the visual arts, focusing on presentation and engagement with the public.
- Applications under Strand 3: Partnership Production and Engagement must be supported by organisations with a significant track record in the presentation of visual arts to audiences. Projects that specifically aim to enhance and extend the publics experience of, and involvement with, visual arts will be prioritised. These projects can take place in a public space, a gallery setting, festivals, unconventional sites and venues. Strand 3 is for the final phase of a project.
- Priority in this strand will be given to proposals that:
- Create and present work that is ambitious in its vision and execution
- Focus on the publics experience of the visual arts
- Present visual art to the public in alternative and innovative settings
- Produce art that results from commissions, collaborations and partnerships
- Reflect strong relationships and support structures and/or level of investment between the applicant and project partner(s) to lead to high-quality production values for the completed work.
Funding Information
- Strand 1: Planning and Pre-production
- Up to 12,000
- Strand 2: Production and Engagement
- Up to 60,000
- Strand 3: Partnership Production and Engagement
- Up to 150,000
Who can apply?
- The award is open to professional artists1 and arts practitioners (e.g. curators, producers) working in all genres and at all stages of their professional careers who are resident or based in Republic of Ireland.
- It is also open to organisations that are not currently funded by the Arts Council through its grant programmes.
- They may accept applications from applicants who are not resident in the Republic of Ireland.
Who cannot apply?
- Applicants who cannot apply include the following:
- Organisations currently in receipt of funding under the following Arts Council programmes: Strategic Funding, Arts Centre Funding, Partnership Funding though the involvement of such organisations as partners is welcome
- Organisations or individuals in receipt of 2026 Arts Grant Funding
- National Cultural Institutions (CNCI) (or their Council members) directly funded by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport
For more information, visit The Arts Council.