Young Ensembles Scheme 2026: Supporting Youth-Led Artistic Practice (Ireland)

Deadline: 26-Feb-2026

The Young Ensembles Scheme supports youth-led artistic groups aged 10–24 to create ambitious, original work across all artforms. Funded by the Arts Council, the scheme provides grants of up to €25,000 to strengthen youth leadership, artistic skills, professional mentorship, and inclusive creative practice.

Overview

The Young Ensembles Scheme is an Arts Council funding programme designed to support groups of young people aged 10 to 24 who work collaboratively to create, explore, or critically engage with ambitious and original artistic work.

The scheme places young people at the centre of the creative process, ensuring meaningful ownership of ideas, artistic decision-making, and presentation of work, while also supporting high-quality artistic development and professional guidance.

Key Aims and Objectives

The scheme aims to:

• Support youth-led and youth-centred artistic ensembles

• Enable ambitious, high-quality, and original artistic processes

• Strengthen artistic skills, confidence, and experience among young people

• Encourage youth leadership and creative ownership

• Provide access to professional artistic mentorship or organisational support

• Create opportunities to present or share work or work in progress

• Promote collaboration across diverse backgrounds

• Support access and participation for young people with disabilities

Projects that demonstrate strong inclusion, collaboration, and accessibility are prioritised.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

Eligible applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be an ensemble or collective of three or more young people

• Participants must be aged between 10 and 24 years

• The ensemble must be youth-led or youth-centred

• The project must focus on artistic creation, exploration, or critical engagement

• Applicants must apply under one of the two funding strands

The Arts Council welcomes applications from all eligible groups, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, family status, religion, age, disability, race, Traveller community membership, or socio-economic background.

Eligible Artforms and Practices

The scheme is open to all artforms, including but not limited to:

• Theatre and performance

• Music, choirs, orchestras, bands, and traditional music

• Dance and circus

• Street performance and spectacle

• Film and digital media

• Visual arts

• Literature, writing, poetry, and criticism

• Architecture and spatial practices

• Multidisciplinary and hybrid arts

Eligible groups may include youth theatres, youth orchestras, choirs, dance or circus groups, film collectives, digital media groups, and collectives of young artists, writers, curators, or critics.

Funding Strands and Grant Amounts

Applicants must apply under one of the following two strands.

Strand 1: Development and Practice

Strand 1 supports new or established ensembles seeking to develop their artistic practice and experience.

• Funding available: up to €10,000

• Suitable for smaller-scale or developmental projects

• Applicants must demonstrate the ability to deliver a high-quality artistic process

Strand 2: Larger-Scale Artistic Projects

Strand 2 supports established ensembles with a proven track record.

• Funding available: €10,000 to €25,000

• Applicants must clearly justify why a higher budget is required

• Projects should demonstrate increased scale, ambition, or complexity compared to Strand 1

Why This Scheme Matters

The Young Ensembles Scheme plays a critical role in:

• Empowering young people as creative leaders

• Supporting long-term artistic development

• Expanding access to professional artistic mentorship

• Encouraging inclusive, collaborative creative environments

• Strengthening the future of the arts sector through youth engagement

By prioritising youth ownership and ambition, the scheme invests directly in the next generation of artists and cultural leaders.

How to Apply

To apply for the Young Ensembles Scheme, applicants should:

1. Confirm eligibility of the ensemble and age range of participants

2. Decide whether Strand 1 or Strand 2 best suits the project

3. Develop a clear proposal outlining artistic aims, process, and outcomes

4. Demonstrate youth leadership and meaningful creative ownership

5. Describe mentorship or professional support involved

6. Include plans for sharing or presenting the work

7. Submit the application through the Arts Council’s application system before the deadline

All application materials must clearly show artistic quality, ambition, and youth-centred practice.

How the Scheme Works

Once funded:

• The ensemble undertakes the approved artistic process or project

• Professional mentors or organisations support the young people where applicable

• Opportunities to present or share work are delivered

• Funding must be used strictly for approved artistic and project costs

• Reporting may be required upon completion

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Applying under the wrong funding strand

• Insufficiently demonstrating youth leadership or ownership

• Weak justification for budgets, especially under Strand 2

• Lack of clarity around artistic ambition or process

• Failing to address inclusion and accessibility

Strong applications clearly centre young people’s voices and creative control.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What age range does the scheme support?

The scheme supports young people aged 10 to 24.

How many people must be in an ensemble?

A minimum of three young people is required.

Can new ensembles apply?

Yes. Both new and established ensembles are eligible, particularly under Strand 1.

What is the maximum funding available?

Up to €10,000 under Strand 1 and up to €25,000 under Strand 2.

Do projects need professional mentors?

Yes. Projects should involve professional artistic mentorship or organisational support.

Are all artforms eligible?

Yes. The scheme is open to all artforms, including multidisciplinary and hybrid practices.

Is inclusion a requirement?

Yes. The scheme prioritises diversity, inclusion, and access, including for young people with disabilities.

Conclusion

The Young Ensembles Scheme provides essential support for youth-led artistic collaboration, creativity, and leadership. By funding ambitious, inclusive, and high-quality artistic processes, the scheme enables young people to develop their skills, share their voices, and shape the future of the arts.

For more information, visit Young Ensembles Scheme.