Funding for Individuals

Our Support for Individual Artists Programme (SIAP), offers you the chance to apply for grants between £62 and £15,000. This programme is for artists who are ready to develop their practice. This fund offers opportunity for research, supports you by providing time to create new work, to train, to develop fresh ideas, to receive mentoring and to travel.

SIAP is open for applications once each year, usually July, while our International Travel Awards programme is a rolling programme.

Accessible Funding

If you have a disability which affects your ability to complete the online application form, please contact the University of Atypical. They will provide tailored advice and support to D/deaf, disabled and Neurodiverse applicants when submitting an application to Arts Council Programmes. Phone: 028 90239450 Email: [email protected]

Arts Council Funding Programme Planner 2025/26

The following programme application opening dates are indicative and may be subject to change.

• WOMEX bursaries – closed July
• Rosy James Memorial Trust Award – closed July
• National Lottery Major Individuals Awards (SIAP) – closed July
• Musical Instruments Programme (individuals) – closed July
• National Lottery Support for Individual Artists Programme (Project Funding for Individuals + Artists International Development Fund) – closed August
• National Lottery Individual Artists Digital Evolution Awards – opens October
• National Lottery Support for Individual Artists Programme China Artists Residency Programme – closed August
• National Lottery Support for Individual Artists Programme Vedaaranya Artists’ Residency at Ramgarh Shekhawati Rajasthan – opened August, closing September

Art Therapy and Art Psychotherapy

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland provides development opportunities and support to artists and organisations through public funding initiatives, including some Arts and Health related initiatives. For example, we may fund arts activities that directly engage with individuals within healthcare, community and arts-based settings, where the aim is to promote the well-being and mental health of participants through the inherent value of the creative process.

We do not fund Art Therapy/Art Psychotherapy which has a clinical focus or sets a therapeutic goal against a specific co-developed treatment plan centred on psychotherapeutic theory.

Please note the titles Art Therapist and Art Psychotherapist are protected by law and to use either of these titles it is a legal requirement to be registered as such with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). All UK Art Therapists must be registered with the HCPC.