Fingal Arts Act Grant Scheme 2026
Ppplications for the Arts Act Grant Scheme 2026 opened on Thursday 10th October 2025 and closed on Friday 5th December 2025 at 4.00pm.
The scheme is designed to support individual artists, community groups, and arts organisations engaged in arts and cultural activities in Fingal. Grants are awarded under the Arts Act 2003 and reflect its objectives of promoting the arts, increasing access to the arts, and supporting cultural development across the county.
Fingal County Council Arts Office is committed to enhancing the cultural and artistic life of the county. The Arts Act Grant Scheme provides support to individuals, community groups, and arts organisations engaged in arts activities, in line with Section 6 of the Arts Act 2003.
This scheme welcomes applications across a wide range of artforms, including theatre, literature, music, dance, opera, film, circus, architecture, visual arts and multi-disciplinary projects, events and festivals.
The objectives of the Arts Act Grant Scheme are:
- Promotion of the Arts – encouraging artistic expression and participation in the arts.
- Access to the Arts – ensuring that the arts are accessible to all members of the community.
- Cultural Development – enriching the cultural life of the county through diverse and inclusive artistic activities.
Applications are welcomed from individuals, community groups, and arts organisations. The Arts Office encourages proposals for projects, events, and festivals that are innovative, inclusive, accessible, and aligned with the priorities of the Fingal Arts Plan 2019–2029 and the objectives of the Arts Act 2003.
For access or application support please contact [email protected] .
Full guidelines available to download here
Fingal Arts Act Grant Scheme 2026 recpiants announced:
The Arts Act Grant Scheme is intended to assist groups, organisations, and individuals in the following:
• stimulating public interest in the arts
• promoting the knowledge, appreciation and encourage practice of the arts
• improving standards and development in the arts in the county
Events, festivals and projects supported under this scheme aim to deliver quality arts experiences to participants and audiences, to increase opportunities for participation and engagement in the arts and to contribute to the development of the arts in the county.
This year marked the first time that the Arts Act Grant Scheme was publicly announced as open for applications. In tandem with this, a new Revenue Strand was introduced by invitation only in this pilot year, expanding the scope of the scheme and the range of applicants eligible to apply.
As a result of these changes, the scheme attracted 60% new applicants in this funding round. Overall, this represented a 140% increase in applicants compared to 2025. This public announcement indicated a significantly increased awareness of the scheme and broadened extent of support sought to €730,714.
A total of 84 applications were received and assessed. Having examined the applications, the panel has recommended 38 awards, amounting to a total sum of €225,000.
For more information about the Arts Act Grant Scheme announcment please see: Fingal County Council Funded Over €800,000 to support Festivals, Events and Arts Across the County | Fingal County Council
LIST OF APPLICANTS AND AWARDS:
Éadaoin Copeland, Fingal Chamber Music, Balbriggan 3,000
Artists Rest Workshop, Balbriggan 2,250
Baldoyle Musical Society 8,000
Gary Keegan, Ballyboughal Community Choir 5,000
Blanchardstown Brass Band 5,000
Brian Gallagher, Howth 4,200
Castleknock Music Festival 10,000
Cecilian Theatre Arts, Dublin 15 8,000
John Nutekpor, CeltAfrik / St. Catherine's National School, Rush 5,000
Cliodhna Noonan, Balbriggan 8,000
Coastal Music Festival, Baldoyle & Sutton 8,000
Coláiste Ghlór na Mara, Balbriggan 3,000
Coolmine Musical Society 8,000
Coolmine Panto Group 8,000
Dublin Plein Air Painting Festival 6,620
Fedelm Creativity 2,000
Hedgestown National School, Lusk 3,000
High Rock Productions 5,000
Hooks & Reels, Howth 3,000
Howth Singing Circle 3,000
Laura Skehan, A Thinning of The Veil, Malahide 12,000
Lusk Community Council 2,430
Malahide Camera Club 5,000
Malahide Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann 8,000
Malahide Musical Society 8,000
Portmarnock Art Group 1,500
Portmarnock Singers 3,000
Rush Dramatic Society / The Millbank Theatre 25,000
Rush Musical Society 8,000
Sean Smith, Rush Festival of Writing 4,000
Skerries Community College 1,000
Skerries Theatre Group 6,000
Skerries Trad Music Weekend 10,000
Skerries Ukulele Strummers 1,500
St. Mary's Secondary School, Baldoyle 3,000
Swords Theatre Company 3,500
Swords Youth Choir 5,000
The Bleeding Pig Festival, Donabate & Portrane 10,000
TOTAL 225,000