LCCC Arts Grants Scheme - Making Art in Communities (MAC) 2025/26

Overview

The importance of the arts and creative activities to the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities is a key part of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council’s Community Support Plan and in support of this, the Council’s Making Art in Communities (MAC) Arts Grants Scheme has been designed to support community groups in the delivery of arts events, projects or activities, which take place in the Council area through the provision of direct grants.

Funding Limits

A maximum grant of up to £1,500 is available for any one organisation in each financial year.

General funding principles

• Organisations in receipt of a grant must comply with all statutory obligations regarding the delivery of and access to their programme, including council procurement/health & safety/safeguarding and licensing requirements.
• Successful applications will be determined on the basis of merit.
• If more than one group operates within a particular locality, we would welcome partnership applications, however a lead applicant will need to be identified. Please note in this case the applicant must demonstrate that there is no project duplication.
• Organisations must be based in the their area and funding must be spent between the date of their signed terms & conditions being received and 31st March 2026.
• Applicants can apply to other sources of public support, outside of the council, but must declare this in their application form.
• Applicants will be expected to make every effort to increase capacity within their local community, through for example, skills training and volunteering.
• It is a prime responsibility of the council to ensure the proper and efficient use of, and accountability for, public monies. To this end, applicants must forward all supporting documentation requested along with the application. They will be unable to assess applications without all supporting documentation being received.
• Applicants will be required to demonstrate the effectiveness and impact of their project, and adequately show how it will have a positive and measurable impact on the local community.
• Future funding may be withheld if any required closing documentation is still outstanding for previous grants administered by them, including invoices, receipts, accounts, bank statements and evaluation reports.
• Successful applicants in any given year should not presume continued support in subsequent years.

Evidence the:

• project is not of a commercial nature or organised on a profit / commercial basis
• application is not for normal running costs of the applicant organisations e.g. existing staff salaries
• projects administration/equipment costs are proportionate to the overall programme costs
• application is not for trade or professional conferences/conventions
• application is not primarily fundraising for charitable purposes, or deploying potential sources of income to a charity
• application is not for a social event that has no community benefit
• the proposed project clearly contributes to the objectives of the Arts Grants Scheme

Who can apply? - eligibility

Organisations must be able to demonstrate the following basic eligibility criteria:

• an open and accountable governing document (constitution or articles and memorandum of association, or applicable governing document) that has been adopted at a public meeting of the group’s membership
• a bank account in the name of the organisation, which requires a minimum of two unrelated members to authorise withdrawals and an annual set of independently examined financial accounts, endorsed at an Annual General Meeting
• a management committee or governing board, elected by its membership at an Annual General Meeting, and elected office bearers
• have appropriate safeguarding policies for protecting children and vulnerable adults, who are involved as part of the group’s programme
• evidence of public liability insurance cover of a minimum £5 million for the activities of the group, including the proposed festival, or confirmation from a broker that this can be produced.
• evidence of employers liability insurance (where applicable) to cover a minimum £10 million for the activities of the group, including the proposed festival, or confirmation from a broker that this can be produced
• evidence that the group is based within our area or that the festival beneficiaries are residents of our area

Funding Criteria

In order to deliver the Arts Grants Scheme aims and principles, applicants will need to demonstrate how their project aims to address a minimum of two of the schemes key objectives.

1. Engaging communities in high quality arts and cultural activities;
2. Encourage better engagement and wellbeing for residents through arts based activities;
3. Encourage partnership working to improve access for all to arts and cultural experiences;
4. Build friendships between generations and cultures reducing isolation, promoting integration and ensuring people-centred arts service.

Engaging communities in high quality arts and cultural activities

• Respond to public need and provide a range of high quality arts and cultural experiences to support local people.
• Encourage and support the creation of qualitative project that demonstrates innovative approaches to capturing the imaginations of local people.

Encourage better engagement and wellbeing for residents through arts based activities

• Work with arts professionals and healthcare providers to develop and deliver programmes aimed at improving health and wellbeing through arts based activities.
• Demonstrate the power of arts and culture to enrich the lives of individuals and make positive changes in communities including capacity building.

Encourage partnership working to improve access for all to arts and cultural experiences

• Demonstrate how communities across a wide range of diverse backgrounds have been at the centre of planning the project and how you have ensured access for all involved.
• Demonstrate collaboration and creativity across networks that supports best use of local resources and delivery of high quality arts and cultural experiences.

Build friendships between generations and cultures reducing isolation, promoting integration and ensuring people-centred arts service

• Provide exciting and challenging creative experiences that will have a long-lasting impact upon participants and audiences ensuring access for all groups.
• Demonstrate how arts and cultural experiences will build self-confidence and self-worth, improve emotional well-being among community members and play an important part in community activities.