Arts Council of Northern Ireland: Annual Funding Programme 2025/26
Overview
The aim of the Annual Funding Programme (AFP) is to support Northern Ireland’s arts infrastructure through grants to organisations in all artforms and practices for their core and programming costs. AFP organisations will be key to helping them achieve the outcomes set out in their 10 year strategic plan1 for developing the arts and they expect all awardees to support them in delivering those outcomes.
Who can apply?
- Non-profit distributing organisations which can demonstrate they require a year-round resource to deliver arts programming.
- Commercial organisations can only apply for support if the proposed programme is primarily for the benefit of the public and where there are plans to re-invest any surplus into a similar programme.
- New applicants to the Annual Funding Programme must have been in receipt of a single award of at least £10,001 from ACNI since 1 April 2022 in order to be eligible for the scheme and must contact the appropriate ACNI arts officer to discuss their application prior to submission and by 5pm on Monday 9 December 2024 at the latest. Failure to make prior contact with the Arts Council before submitting an application will render your application ineligible.
What You Can Apply For
You can apply for one year funding only. Eligible costs include the following:
Core costs
- Administrative salaries
- Rent and Rates
- Light and Heat
- Maintenance, security, etc.
- Telephone and Fax
- Printing, postage, stationery
- Financial costs
- Insurance
Programming costs
- Artists’ costs
- Volunteer expenses
- Audience Development plans
- Publicity/Marketing (excluding catering/merchandising)
- Transportation
- Travel, Accommodation, Subsistence
- Equipment/Materials
- Access/Participation Plans
Accessbility Costs
These are additional costs associated with the delivery of programming for people with particular needs as defined under Section 75 of The Northern Ireland Act 1998. Accessibility Costs are paid retrospectively on submission of evidence of demonstrated use of the services. You should also note:
- Requested accessibility costs must be related to the activity covered by your AFP application.
- Accessibility costs must be included in the overall total request; they are not additional to it.
- Applicants may choose to request the full value of accessibility costs, however, keep in mind that there is no guarantee of funding.