Applications for funding for individual artists now open

While artists may apply to more than one scheme, only one grant will be awarded in any one funding round. Separate application forms must be submitted for each scheme and the projects within each application must be significantly different.

For details of how to apply, eligibility and how much funding you can request under each scheme, please check the individual guidance notes. Links are included below.

Support for Individual Artists Programme
The aim of the overall Support for Individual Artists Programme (SIAP) is to support artists across all disciplines to create work and develop their practice. Broadly, awards can be for specific projects, specialised research or personal artistic development.

Open Now

• General Arts Awards
  General Art Awards can be for specific projects, specialised research, personal artistic development and certain materials/ equipment.
• Artists Career Enhancement Scheme (ACES)
  These awards aim to deepen the developmental impact of Arts Council’s support for artists, with a targeted package of training, mentoring and support provided for successful applicants. Funding is aimed at career artists whose practice is of high quality, original, challenging and innovative. The awards are designed to support artists in their professional development, enabling successful applicants to raise their profile and significantly enhance their career.
• Artists International Development Fund (AIDF)
  The Artists’ International Development Fund is an annual programme jointly funded by the British Council and Arts Council of Northern Ireland and is open to individual artists and organisations. The programme will support early stage international development opportunities for individual, freelance and self-employed artists and organisations based in Northern Ireland.

Application deadline: Tuesday 30th August 2022 at 12pm

For guidance notes and applications visit http://www.artscouncil-ni.org/funding/scheme/SIAP

SIAP Minority Ethnic Residency & Mentoring Programme
Open Now
In working to create the conditions for the widest variety of art and creativity for both artists and audiences through our Support for the Individual Artist Programme, the Arts Council is seeking to address the numerous and complex barriers to access, progression and representation in the arts encountered by minority ethnic artists with this mentoring and residency scheme. Through this programme the Arts Council wishes to create opportunities for specialized training, research, cultural exchanges, networking and learning for individual artists, creative practitioners and arts administrators from minority ethnic and migrant backgrounds.

Application deadline: Monday 22nd August at 12pm

For guidance notes and application visit http://www.artscouncil-ni.org/funding/scheme/siap-minority-ethnic-residency-mentoring-programme

SIAP Travel Awards
Open Now
These awards enable individual artists and established music groups (up to 4 members) to travel from Northern Ireland to develop their skills and expertise. Applicants must provide evidence that they have been invited by a host organisation in the country to which they intend to travel.

Application deadline: This is a rolling programme. Please note, applications must be made 4 weeks before intended date of travel.

For guidance notes and application visit http://www.artscouncil-ni.org/funding/scheme/travel-awards

SIAP Major Individual Awards
Open Now
Major Individual Awards are intended to create the circumstances in which established artists with national / international recognition may develop extended or ambitious work. Awards can be for specific projects, specialised research, personal artistic development and materials/ equipment. The Arts Council is offering 4 awards of up to £15,000 each in 2022/23.

Application deadline: Monday 15th August 2022 at 12pm

For guidance notes and application visit http://www.artscouncil-ni.org/funding/scheme/siap-major-individuals-award