Foras na Gaeilge: Professional and Amateur Drama Companies

Overview

Foras na Gaeilge is providing funding to legally established drama groups, both amateur and professional, including newly established groups, who wish to produce Irish language or bilingual plays around the country and abroad.

This scheme focuses on Irish language drama companies which aim to foster, develop and provide Irish language drama to the arts sector, the Irish language community, the general public and the education sector.

This scheme also focuses on community development, increased attendance and audience development.

• 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.

Eligibility

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

• The company can demonstrate that the main aims of the elements of the project for which funding is sought are the promotion of the Irish language and the provision of opportunities for the use of Irish.
• The company can demonstrate that there is a need for the project and that value for money is available to Foras na Gaeilge
• The company has a strategy to grow the number of people who will be participating, including members of the company, production personnel and attendees.

Foras na Gaeilge may add to these qualifying criteria.

Particular requirements

• The company has a constitution
• Public liability insurance policy
• Appropriate safeguarding checklist must be completed
• A bank account in the name of the company
• Valid ROS tax number
• Current tax clearance certificate

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

How will Foras na Gaeilge assess the applications?

They will assess and score applications in accordance with these criteria.

• The subject of the plays, number of productions and venues of the productions, imagination and innovation of the company’s programme of work
• High artistic standards achieved in scripts, acting and productions
• Increase participation and creativity in Irish through the medium of the arts
• Use of Irish on the company’s publicity
• Information on other funding and support, e.g. sponsorship, funding in kind and estimated income
• Value for money regarding the number of people who will be participating, including members of the company, production personnel and attendees.
• Strategy to increase those participating in activities, between company members, production team and audiences.
• Estimate of number of people who will participate, including company members, performers and audiences.
• Management and administration capacity which will include the company’s experience and expertise.

Available Funding

• Professional groups: Maximum €50,000/£30,000; costs of the company’s programme of work will not be 100% funded.
• Amateur groups: €12,000/£8,000; permission to apply for 100% of the year’s programme costs.
• New professional groups: €24,000/£16,000; permission to apply for 100% of the year’s programme costs.

Eligible costs

• Productions through the medium of Irish or which are bilingual but with Irish in first position.
• Development of new scripts
• Development of new plays