Foras na Gaeilge: Festivals Scheme

Overview

Foras na Gaeilge is providing funding to appropriate local groups to give them an opportunity to develop arts festivals or elements of festivals being run and implemented through the medium of Irish or of which the language-based arts are a central part. 

This scheme is aimed at festivals which aim to foster and promote through Irish or bilingually the Irish language, the language-based arts and Irish language heritage, as an integral part of the festival, and to provide a platform for the Irish language community, to the wider community and to the arts sector.  

The scheme also seeks to create and foster opportunities for the use of, and to develop, networks through the medium of the language-based arts.

Grants are provided with public money, and Foras na Gaeilge has statutory duties to ensure the value for money of all funded projects.

Foras na Gaeilge recommends applicants seek joint funding for projects, when appropriate, and to cooperate with other organisations in order to achieve the best value from the Foras na Gaeilge grant.

They particularly welcome applications from organisations located in areas recognised in government strategies or legislation.

Who can apply

To be eligible to apply for this scheme your organisation must be able to fulfil the following qualifying criteria:

• The applicant’s group must have a constitution
• The applicant must have public liability insurance
• There must be a bank account in the name of the festival
• The applicant must have a valid ROS number (if appropriate)
• The applicant must have a tax clearance certificate (if appropriate)
• A statement showing a commitment to the Irish language must be made by the applicant

Foras na Gaeilge may add to these qualifying criteria.

If you have any question on any aspect of the qualifying criteria, you can contact Foras na Gaeilge before the deadline.

Assessment Criteria

The following criteria will be used to assess all applications:

• About the Festival
• Experience and resources
• The Irish Language
• Marketing
• Project costs and value for money

Eligible Activities

• Irish language activities focused primarily on the language based arts
• Opportunities to use the Irish language and Irish language social networks
• Festivals which have the use of Irish on their programme and their publicity material

Types of funding available

The grant maximum is €5,000/£3,500.

Foras na Gaeilge will not fund 100% of total festival costs or the Irish language events of the festival.