Arts Council NI: National Lottery Project Funding 2025-2026

Overview

They want to support activities which benefit the people of Northern Ireland or that help arts organisations in Northern Ireland carry out their work.

• 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, the following:
  • Minority Ethnic artists
  • D/deaf, neurodiverse and disabled artists
  • Emerging artists
  • Working-class artists
  • LGBTQIA artists
• Promote innovative, original work by Northern Ireland artists across all artforms.

How much funding is available?

You should be realistic in your expectations and budgets, and bear in mind that the Council may choose to fund specific elements of your proposal rather than the full proposal. 

• The minimum grant available under this programme is normally £10,001. 
• The maximum grant available will be £75,000. 
  • Your request must not exceed £75,000. 

How much partnership funding do you need? 

The minimum partnership funding you need to find from non- National Lottery, non-Arts Council sources is 10%

The minimum partnership funding requirement of 10% may be comprised of cash and/or in-kind funding

If your organisation is a statutory body the minimum partnership funding, you need to find is 50% of the costs.

What you can apply for

You can apply for arts activities that last up to one year and which help to address the aims of the programme above. These can include the following:

• Projects, events and programmes of activity together with related overhead costs associated with the delivery of the project/event or programme
• Projects which contribute to the growth of the work force and/or artistic development through mentoring programmes or opportunities.
• Projects which promote mental Health and well-being for all participants
• Projects which have sustainable development at their core, or which address environmental issues.
• Accessibility costs: these are costs associated with the delivery of a project for people with particular needs as defined under Section 75 of The Northern Ireland Act 1998, e.g. sign language interpretation, Braille paperwork, transport costs, carer costs.
• Continuation of salaries of existing administrative and/or arts posts
• New work commissions and Productions in all artforms
• Research and Development
• Audience Development – to meet the needs of audiences and to help arts organisations develop ongoing relationships with diverse audiences
• Touring (in more than one local authority area)
• Presentations or exhibitions (in more than one local authority area) of work by artists and arts organisations, which develop opportunities for audiences to attend international events in NI which they might not otherwise see.
• Projects which are planned to reach significant audiences through ‘live’, ‘as live’ or recorded digital performance, publication, broadcast, reading, recording, and/or other audience channels
• Modest requests for capital equipment, website design and upkeep costs and digital platform development will be assessed on a case by case basis and these must be integral to project design and/or delivery and/or specific project costs.

Who can apply?

The Arts Council welcomes applications from the widest possible range of organisations and in particular from applicants whose projects benefit individuals categorised under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. You will be required to provide proof that you have a legal constitution.

• You do not have to be primarily an arts organisation, although the focus of the project must be on arts activities.
• Registered charities and other organisations which cannot distribute profits may apply for funds.
• Local Authorities are eligible to apply but they are a low priority.
• Commercial organisations can only apply for support if the project is primarily for the benefit of the public rather than their own commercial interests.
• If your organisation has a limited membership, or is a school, college or university, you must show that the project will benefit the wider public.
• Public sector agencies can apply for projects which are outside their statutory remit.
• Groups of organisations (consortia) working together to deliver specific project are eligible to apply.
• In most cases we expect the activity to take place in Northern Ireland. However, organisations based outside Northern Ireland can apply where they can demonstrate significant benefit to the people of Northern Ireland.
• Applicants must be able to present at least one year's full accounts.