Arts Council of Northern Ireland The National Lottery
Funding

Arts Groups Can Now Apply for National Lottery Project Funding

8th April, 2024

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is now inviting applications to its National Lottery Project Funding Programme. The annual programme is designed to assist organisations to deliver arts projects which contribute to the growth of arts in the community for new and existing audiences and which reflect the diversity of Northern Ireland’s society and culture.

Stage Beyond, a theatre company based in Derry-Londonderry for adults with learning disabilities, was a recent recipient of National Lottery Project Funding. Pictured in 2023 are Stage Beyond members, Hollie Hunter and Alison Smyth.

The Arts Council’s National Lottery Project Funding Programme supports activities which benefit the people of Northern Ireland or that help arts organisations in Northern Ireland carry out their work. In addition, the Council wishes to support projects which:

  • Encourage the involvement of children and young people, older people, or people with disabilities with organisations and artists of the very highest professional standards across the disciplines.
  • Encourage proposals which will deliver high quality programming in rural areas.
  • Encourage the involvement of, and applications with a focus on, minority ethnic artists, D/deaf, neurodiverse and disabled artists, emerging artists, working-class artists and LGBTQIA artists
  • Promote innovative, original work by Northern Ireland artists across all art forms.

The minimum grant available under this programme is normally £10,001 and the maximum grant available will be £75,000.

Gilly Campbell, Joint Director of Arts Development at the Arts Council, commented: 

“Thanks to National Lottery players, the Arts Council is able to reopen this important funding scheme which will support the development of high-quality arts activities in communities across Northern Ireland. Last year’s National Lottery Project Funding supported a diverse range of projects from festivals, to community arts events, theatre productions and concerts, for people of all ages. This year, once again, we would encourage applications across all art forms, with a particular focus on quality and inclusivity.”

Only projects that will take place between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025 are eligible for the scheme. Applicants will need to find a minimum of 10% partnership funding from non- National Lottery, non-Arts Council sources. The minimum partnership funding requirement of 10% may be comprised of cash and/or in-kind funding. For statutory bodies the minimum partnership funding needed is 50% of the costs.

The deadline for applications is 12 noon, Tuesday 7 May, 2024. Applicants are advised to consult the programme Guidance Notes, Introduction Notes and Commitment statements before submitting their application. You must apply using the Arts Council’s online system. The Arts Council will not accept applications in hard copy or by email.

Full details of the programme, eligibility and what you can apply for can be found at https://artscouncil-ni.org/funding-for-organisations/national-lottery-project-funding