Deadline: 28-Aug-2025
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has designed this Small grant programme to enable organizations to purchase equipment and/or carry out minor works to their premises which will provide opportunities to upgrade equipment and carry out necessary works to ensure they maintain a presence in the arts sector.
They want to support organizations across Northern Ireland to maintain their creative spaces addressing any issues that may hinder the work to take place. They want to ensure that organizations have the necessary equipment in place to welcome their staff, artists and audiences. They also want to support organizations in their delivery of the arts.
Aims
- The scheme aims to provide grants which will help to:
- Maintain/improve the quality of artistic activities delivered
- improve the accessibility of the arts;
- improve the environment for the arts sector;
- enhance or broaden the audience/participants’ experience.
Funding Information
- The maximum grant amount you can request is £25,000.
Eligible Costs
- You can apply for any equipment and/or minor works to help adapt your venue or working practice. This could be, but not limited to, the following:
- New equipment/structures to enhance accessibility/delivery
- Accessibility equipment and minor works
- Creation of safe spaces
- IT equipment to assist/improve arts delivery
- Software (pre-loaded operating systems and packages only)
- Works in relation to upgrading and maintaining existing systems
- Transport
Ineligible Costs
- Second-hand equipment without a warranty/guarantee
- Equipment service costs
- Subscription costs to include broadband
- Musical instruments
- Sheet music
- Mobile phones
- Consumables
Eligibility Criteria
- The Arts Council welcomes applications from the widest possible range of organisations and in particular from applicants whose projects benefit individuals categorised under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. In addition, in order to be eligible to apply to this programme, please note the following:
- You do not have to be primarily an arts organisation, (for example, community groups may apply to the scheme), however, the purpose of the requested equipment and/or minor works must be clearly focussed on the arts.
- Local authorities are eligible to apply but they are a low priority.
- Registered charities and other fully constituted organisations which cannot distribute a profit are eligible to apply.
- Commercial organisations can only apply for support if the equipment and/or minor works is primarily for the benefit of the public rather than their own commercial interests.
- If your organisation has a limited membership you must show that the equipment and/or minor works will benefit the wider public.
- Groups of organisations (consortia) working together to deliver specific projects may apply.
Ineligibility Criteria
- Individuals or sole traders
- Broadcasters (excluding community service broadcasters)
- Central Government Departments
- Bands seeking musical instruments (the Arts Council has a separate Musical Instruments for Bands programme)
- Schools, Colleges and Universities
- Organisations who are in breach of the terms of previous ACNI grant awards.
For more information, visit ACNI.