Arts Council of Northern Ireland The National Lottery
Funding, Organisations

Funding available for youth arts projects

3rd October, 2023

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is inviting organisations across Northern Ireland to apply for National Lottery funding to support youth arts projects which promote positive mental health through creative activities.

A young person is seen seated at keyboards, wearing a red t-shirt. Behind him other musicians can be seen on keyboard and drums.
The Fuel programme in Enniskillen was one of the groups awarded funding last year for their project which used digital arts to help young people build new skills, develop new friendships and improve self-confidence.

Community and voluntary groups, arts organisations, non-governmental organisations and local authorities can apply for grants of up to £10,000 through the Arts Council’s National Lottery ARTiculate Young People and Wellbeing Arts Programme. Funding will be awarded for arts based projects specifically targeted at young people aged 12-18 years of age.

Made possible, thanks to funding for good causes from the National Lottery, the ARTIculate  programme gives a voice to young people through drama, music, visual arts and literature activities. Groups applying for funding support are asked to give a particular focus to including young people experiencing higher levels of disadvantage or exclusion and more vulnerable groups, such as those living with a mental health condition, eating disorders or addiction.

The National Lottery ARTicualte Young People and Wellbeing Programme was first launched in 2016 and since then has awarded 70 grants to organisations to develop projects across a range of arts activities including, DJing, graffiti art, ceramics, drama and creative writing.

Lorraine Calderwood, Programme Manager for the National Lottery Young People and Wellbeing Arts Programme, commented: 

“With this funding, we want to reach out to some of the most vulnerable children in society. We are looking for projects that are fun and engaging but also those which enable participants to shape the activity and be involved as decision makers.
“At its very core, this important programme is about opening up opportunities for young people to engage in the arts and to experience the many benefits that brings including promoting self-expression, developing self-confidence and self-motivation.”

For further information on the programme and how to apply go to https://artscouncil-ni.org/funding-for-organisations/young-people-wellbeing-arts-programme. Please note, applications close Tuesday 10th October, 12pm.

#ARTiculate

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