Nominations open for Literature Project Award Grant 2027 (Ireland)

Deadline: 23-Jul-2026

The Literature Project Award Grant supports specific artistic projects in literature, helping writers, illustrators, groups, and organisations bring clearly defined creative ideas to fruition. The award focuses on projects that connect literature with readers and audiences while supporting innovative ways of researching, developing, creating, and presenting literary work.

Applicants can apply for funding of up to €20,000. Each application must focus on a single project with a clear outcome, defined start point, and defined end point.

What is the Literature Project Award Grant?

The Literature Project Award Grant is a funding opportunity for specific artistic projects in literature.

The award supports artists and organisations to develop and deliver high-quality literary work with a defined purpose, timeline, and outcome.

It is intended for individual projects rather than ongoing programmes or repeated activities.

Main Purpose of the Award

The main purpose of the award is to help literature artists and organisations bring creative project ideas to completion.

The award aims to:

• Support high-quality artistic work in literature
• Help writers and illustrators develop creative projects
• Connect literature with readers and audiences
• Support innovative literary presentation
• Encourage research, development, and creation
• Support single projects with clear outcomes
• Enable new and experimental approaches to literature

Funding Amount

Applicants can apply for funding of up to €20,000.

The requested amount should match the scale, needs, timeline, and expected outcome of the proposed project.

Project Requirement

Each application must focus on one clearly defined project.

The project must have:

• A specific artistic outcome
• A clear start point
• A clear end point
• A defined purpose
• A focused project plan
• A clear connection to literature

The award does not support ongoing programmes or open-ended activities.

Who Can Apply?

The Literature Project Award is open to:

• Individuals
• Groups of individuals working collaboratively
• Organisations

Applicants must be able to demonstrate a relevant professional track record.

Professional Track Record Requirement

Applicants must show that they have a professional background in literature or related artistic practice.

This means applicants should be able to demonstrate experience, recognition, or previous work as professional artists or professional organisations.

Applications are not accepted from:

• Organisations without a track record as professional organisations
• Individuals without a demonstrable track record as professional artists

What Types of Projects Are Supported?

The award supports a wide range of literature-focused artistic projects.

Eligible project themes may include:

• Traditional publications
• Digital publications
• Digital or innovative literary presentations
• Live literary events
• Spoken-word events
• Storytelling events
• Readings and talks
• Recordings
• Podcasts
• Reader-development projects
• Workshops
• Residencies
• Experimental writing projects
• Collaborative writing projects
• Collaborative research and development

Key Focus Areas

The award focuses on artistic quality, audience connection, and project clarity.

Key focus areas include:

• Literature
• Artistic project development
• Reader engagement
• Audience engagement
• Writing
• Illustration
• Spoken word
• Storytelling
• Digital literary work
• Literary events
• Experimental writing
• Collaborative research
• Creative development

Projects Connecting Literature with Audiences

The award supports projects that help literature reach readers, listeners, and audiences.

This may include projects that:

• Present literary work to the public
• Create new reader engagement opportunities
• Use live or digital formats
• Support audience participation
• Expand access to literature
• Encourage dialogue between writers and audiences
• Use innovative ways to share literary work

Support for Writers and Illustrators

The award supports writers and illustrators who want to research, develop, and create work in new and innovative ways.

Projects may involve:

• New writing
• Illustrated literary work
• Research and development
• Creative experimentation
• Collaboration with other artists
• Digital or audio-based formats
• Public-facing literary outcomes

Key Concepts Explained

Single Artistic Project

A single artistic project is one focused piece of work with a defined aim, timeline, budget, and outcome.

Reader Development

Reader development refers to activities that encourage people to engage with literature, discover writers, participate in reading culture, or deepen their relationship with literary work.

Spoken Word

Spoken word is a performance-based literary form where written or improvised text is delivered aloud to an audience.

Collaborative Research and Development

Collaborative research and development involves artists or organisations working together to explore, test, or develop a literary idea before or during project delivery.

Professional Track Record

A professional track record is evidence of previous work, experience, recognition, or activity in a professional artistic or literary context.

Ineligible Applicants

Applications are not accepted from certain individuals and organisations.

Ineligible applicants include:

• Organisations currently receiving Strategic Funding
• Organisations currently receiving Arts Centre Partnership Funding
• Organisations currently receiving Partnership Funding
• Organisations or individuals receiving Arts Grant Funding 2027
• Organisations without a professional track record
• Individuals without a demonstrable professional artist track record
• Members of the Council of National Cultural Institutions directly funded by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport

Organisations receiving Strategic Funding, Arts Centre Partnership Funding, or Partnership Funding may participate as project partners, but they cannot apply directly.

Updated Plain Language Guidance

The award documentation has been updated using plain language guidelines.

This means applicants should aim to present their project clearly and directly, using accessible language and a well-structured proposal.

How the Award Works

Applicants must submit one clearly defined literature project.

The proposal should explain:

• The artistic idea
• The project outcome
• The start and end point
• The intended readers or audiences
• The professional track record of the applicant
• The project activities
• The budget
• The timeline
• The expected artistic value

How to Apply

Applicants should prepare a focused proposal that clearly explains the literature project and its intended outcome.

Suggested Application Steps

1. Confirm that the applicant is eligible.
2. Confirm that the project is a single, clearly defined literature project.
3. Define the project’s artistic outcome.
4. Set a clear start date and end date.
5. Explain how the project connects literature with readers or audiences.
6. Describe the creative process, research, development, or presentation method.
7. Provide evidence of professional track record.
8. Prepare a realistic budget of up to €20,000.
9. Check that the applicant is not excluded under any ineligible funding category.
10. Submit the application according to the official award requirements.

Assessment Considerations

Applications should demonstrate clear artistic value, feasibility, and professional capacity.

Assessment may consider:

• Quality of the literary project
• Clarity of the project outcome
• Strength of the artistic idea
• Professional track record of the applicant
• Connection with readers or audiences
• Innovation in research, development, or presentation
• Feasibility of the timeline and budget
• Relevance of activities to the project outcome
• Potential contribution to literature practice

Expected Results

Funded projects should support high-quality literature and meaningful audience engagement.

Expected results may include:

• New literary work
• Digital or traditional publications
• Live or recorded literary presentations
• Stronger reader engagement
• New spoken-word or storytelling projects
• Innovative literary formats
• Creative development for writers or illustrators
• Collaborative artistic outcomes
• High-quality literary experiences for audiences

Why It Matters

Literature connects people with ideas, stories, voices, cultures, and lived experiences.

The Literature Project Award Grant helps artists and organisations turn focused literary ideas into completed artistic outcomes.

By supporting clearly defined projects, the award encourages creativity, innovation, audience engagement, and high-quality literary practice.

Tips for Strong Applications

A strong application should clearly show what the project is, why it matters, and how it will be completed.

Applicants should focus on:

• One clear project idea
• A specific artistic outcome
• Strong literature focus
• Realistic timeline
• Clear reader or audience connection
• Evidence of professional track record
• Appropriate budget
• Innovative creative approach
• Clear start and end point
• Strong explanation of artistic quality

Applicants should avoid submitting broad, ongoing, or programme-based proposals that do not have one clear project outcome.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should carefully check the award’s scope and eligibility rules.

Common mistakes include:

• Submitting an ongoing programme instead of a single project
• Not defining a clear outcome
• Providing no clear start or end point
• Applying without a professional track record
• Requesting more than €20,000
• Submitting a project with weak connection to literature
• Not explaining how readers or audiences will engage
• Applying while receiving Arts Grant Funding 2027
• Applying as an organisation currently receiving excluded funding
• Providing a vague or unrealistic project plan

FAQ

What is the Literature Project Award Grant?

It is a grant that supports specific artistic projects in literature with a clear outcome, start point, and end point.

How much funding is available?

Applicants can apply for up to €20,000.

Who can apply?

Individuals, groups of individuals working collaboratively, and organisations may apply if they meet the professional track record requirements.

What types of projects are eligible?

Eligible projects may include publications, digital presentations, literary events, spoken-word events, storytelling, readings, podcasts, workshops, residencies, experimental writing, and collaborative research and development.

Can the award support ongoing programmes?

No. The award supports individual projects, not ongoing programmes.

Can organisations receiving Strategic Funding apply?

No. Organisations currently receiving Strategic Funding, Arts Centre Partnership Funding, or Partnership Funding cannot apply directly, but they may participate as project partners.

Are Arts Grant Funding 2027 recipients eligible?

No. Individuals or organisations receiving Arts Grant Funding 2027 are not eligible to apply.

Conclusion

The Literature Project Award Grant supports high-quality, clearly defined artistic projects in literature. With funding of up to €20,000, the award helps writers, illustrators, groups, and organisations develop, create, and present literary work that connects with readers and audiences.

Strong applications will demonstrate a single focused project, clear artistic outcome, professional track record, realistic planning, audience connection, and a meaningful contribution to literature.

For more information, visit The Arts Council.