Bursaries & Funding

The Arts Council Literature Project Award 2026

The Arts Council Literature Project Award 2026 is currently open for applications. Unlike the Literature Bursary Award, which supports the creation of new work, this award supports the development of discrete, reader-oriented activities, including but not limited to:

– Traditional or digital publications
– Digital or innovative presentations
– Live literary, spoken-word or storytelling events
– Readings and talks
– Recordings or podcasts
– Reader-development projects
– Workshops and residencies
– Experimental or collaborative writing projects/practices
– Collaborative research and development.

Writers and illustrators can apply for up to €30,000. See the Arts Council’s website for more information.

Deadline: 24 July 2025

The Arts Council Writers in the School Scheme

The Writers in Schools Scheme part-funds visits by writers and storytellers to schools throughout the island of Ireland. This scheme is co-funded by the Arts Council but administered by Poetry Ireland. Maximum award is €200.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Arts Council Ireland

The Arts Council of Ireland is the Irish government agency for developing the arts. We work in partnership with artists, arts organisations, public policy makers and others to build a central place for the arts in Irish life.

Arts Council Northern Ireland

Arts Council funding supports hundreds of artists, arts practitioners, venues and communities. We invest money from Government and the National Lottery to support arts and culture across Northern Ireland.

Carlow Arts Office

Cavan Arts Office

Cavan County Council Arts Office is the local government agency charged with leading the development of the arts in the county. They work in partnership with the Arts Council, Department of the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and with other government departments as well as agencies and organisations within and beyond the cultural sector.

Clare Arts Office

Established as the first Local Authority Arts Office in the country in 1986, Clare Arts Office has led the way in arts development and supports for artists at local level for many years.

Cork Arts Office

Established as the first Local Authority Arts Office in the country in 1986, Clare Arts Office has led the way in arts development and supports for artists at local level for many years.

Donegal Arts Office

The Arts Service works closely with a wide range of artists, arts organisations, education service providers and community groups in all parts of County Donegal.

Dublin Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Arts Office

dlr Arts Office supports arts activity and practice in the County in several ways including the annual arts grants while also supporting the professional development of individual artists, groups and organisations.

Dublin Fingal Arts Office

Fingal County Council’s Arts Office encourages and supports cultural activity within Fingal by offering financial support to organised arts and community groups under Section 6 of the 2003 Arts Act.

Dublin South Council Arts Office

South Dublin County Council Arts Office provides a service that supports the development of creative people and communities through the Arts. Provision and support of high quality arts experiences are central to the service. This is realised through research, programmes, events, grants and awards and the development of on-line and off-line resources.

Galway Arts Office

Galway City Council Arts Office aims to support events in Galway Central, City East and City West. We also aim to support events that encourage and support diversity as well as events that ensure late-night offerings become a feature of the evening time culture and economy of Galway City.

Kildare Arts Office

Kildare County Council Arts Service aims to foster, promote and develop the arts and cultural development in the county. The Arts Service’s mission is to encourage, support and inspire individuals, communities, and artists, to improve the experience of the arts and creativity for all people living in the county.

Kerry Arts Office

The Kerry Arts Office was established in the late 1980’s through a co-funding model by the Arts Council and the Local Authorities across Ireland. The Arts Office is responsible for the development and implementation of services which provide support to the diverse arts sector in Kerry, such as programming, funding, information, advice, promotion and policy

Kilkenny Arts Office

Kilkenny County Council Arts Office works to develop, co-ordinate, motivate, inspire and strengthen artistic activity throughout the city and county. We promote the arts as a worthwhile activity for all, coordinate key national arts and culture events and provide advice and support for groups and individuals

Laois Arts Office

Our purpose is to plan a comprehensive arts programme for the people of County Laois.

Leitrim Arts Office

Throughout this year Leitrim County Council will be writing a new Arts Plan and a new Culture & Creativity Strategy for 2023-2028, which will include a review of our current Arts Strategy and our Creative Ireland Culture & Creativity Strategy.

Limerick Arts Office

Limerick City Council provides a range of arts and cultural services through its combined support for the Arts Service, Limerick City Gallery of Art, The Library Service and The Museum Service. Together these services provide programmes of activities that create an access for all approach to service provision.

Longford Arts Office

Longford Arts works to support, promote and build capacity within the arts sector in County Longford. This includes exposing students and young people to the arts for their enjoyment, learning and to inspire their future possibilities.

Louth Arts Office

The Arts Service works towards a society which values the arts, and recognises their positive contribution to individuals and communities. By supporting those who create art, the quality of life and the richness of cultures in Louth will be enhanced.

Mayo Arts Office

The Arts Service is responsible for the development and implementation of services which provide support for the arts in Mayo. |They aim to make arts accessible and inclusive to all., providing information, promotion, advice, programming and policy while covering all art forms; music, visual arts, literature, drama, dance, film, community arts and public art.

Meath Arts Office

Meath County Council Arts Office works to support and develop a diverse range of interesting, engaging, and dynamic creative offerings throughout County Meath.

Monaghan Arts Office

Monaghan Arts Office aim is to enhance the quality of people’s experience of the Arts, to advocate the unique value of the arts in society and to recognise both promise and achievement in the creation of Art

Offaly Arts Office

Roscommon Arts Office

The Roscommon County Council actively encourage the development of creative activity in the county. They achieve this by providing greater opportunity and access to arts events, workshops, information and expertise, encouraging greater appreciation and participation in the arts generally for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Sligo Arts Office

Sligo Arts Service is a department of Sligo County Council, working in partnership with the Arts Council of Ireland and key stakeholders locally, regionally and nationally to deliver a high quality arts service for the people of County Sligo.

Tipperary Arts Office

The Tipperary Arts Office strives to broaden and deepen access to the arts and to further develop strategies for sustainable engagement, creating an environment where the arts will continue to thrive.

Waterford Arts Office

Waterfordarts.com is the voice of the Waterford arts service that is provided by Waterford City and County Council. The site offers up-to-date news on Arts Service programmes as well as information on the arts in Waterford and beyond. They also welcome pieces about arts and culture, as well as general entertainment

Westmeath Arts Office

The Arts Office provides support for the professional, voluntary, community and amateur arts sectors in Westmeath and provides information and advice to the community on Arts related issues.

Wexford Arts Office

Our aim is to improve the quality of life for the citizens of County Wexford by enabling people to engage in high quality arts experiences and by stimulating and supporting standards of excellence among artists in their practice. Their aims are empowering artists, arts organisations and communities, providing opportunities for people to engage in high quality arts experience and Stimulating and supporting standards of excellence in the arts in County Wexford

Wicklow Arts Office

Wicklow County Arts Office was established as a core service of Wicklow Local Authorities in 1997, to stimulate arts practice in the county and to support artist development. The Arts Office has a core programme of residencies, educational projects, artist supports and youth arts events that are funded by both Wicklow County Council and the Arts Council of Ireland.