National Lottery grants of up to £75,000 available for arts groups

The deadline for applications is 12 noon, 1 June 2026.

The funding will support activities which benefit the people of Northern Ireland or that help arts organisations based in Northern Ireland to carry out their work.

In addition, the National Lottery Project Funding programme will 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 artforms.

Gilly Campbell, Director of Arts Development, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said: “Thanks to National Lottery funding this programme has reopened for another year to support the development of high-quality arts activities in communities across Northern Ireland.

“Last year’s programme supported a diverse range of projects including the Charles Wood Festival of Music and Summer School in Armagh, the Armstrong Storytelling Trust in Ballymena, Carntogher Community Association in Mid Ulster, Accidental Theatre in Belfast, R-Space Gallery in Lisburn and Portico of Ards in Portaferry.

“This year organisations have four weeks to submit their online application, and we would encourage projects across all art forms to apply, with a particular focus on quality and inclusivity.”

One of last year’s grant recipients is Gasyard Development Trust’s Bluebell Arts Project, based in Derry~Londonderry. They received a £36,595 grant to run a community arts programme providing a range of activities such as visual arts, pottery, creative writing, photography, music and dance, alongside a dedicated ‘Empowering the Artist’ strand which supports emerging and established artists to develop their skills, deliver workshops and build sustainable creative careers.

Louise Moorhead, Arts Development Coordinator, Gasyard Development Trust, commented on the success of their project so far: “National Lottery Project Funding has enabled us to deliver a structured, year-round programme of arts activity, engage a wide network of local artists and provide accessible opportunities for participants who may not typically engage with the arts. It has also allowed us to invest in artist development, programme coordination and the resources required to deliver high-quality, community-based creative experiences.

“The project has had a strong positive impact on participants, supporting improved confidence, wellbeing and social connection. It has also strengthened community cohesion through shared creative experiences. For artists, the programme has provided valuable paid opportunities, professional development and a pathway towards independent practice. Collectively, this has contributed to a more vibrant and sustainable local arts sector, with long-term benefits for both individuals and the wider community.”

Decisions are expected in July 2026 and applications must be for up to one-year projects taking place between 1 August 2026 – 31 July 2027.

Full details of the programme, eligibility and what you can apply for can be found at National Lottery Project Funding 2026-2027 | Arts Council NI