4.6M in Funding Available Through Three New Creative Ireland Grants
The Creative Ireland Programme is delighted to announce three new funding calls supporting creativity, connection and wellbeing across the island of Ireland.
Funding is available through:
Creative Health & Wellbeing in the Community, local authority partnerships with creative and community organisations grant call (with a Shared Island dimension)
Strand A: Creative Ireland and Healthy Ireland collaboration runs from mid 2026 to end 2027
- Creative Ireland has funding in 2026–27 for partnerships of at least two local authorities (aligned with Regional Health Authority) to deliver arts and health projects in the community and HSE community and hospital settings.
- The lead applicant must be a local authority. You will work with HSE and local or national arts, cultural or creative organisations to deliver these projects.
- Projects should be developed and delivered by the Creative Ireland and Healthy Ireland teams in local authorities. This team will work with cultural and creative partners and (if appropriate) with the relevant HSE Health Promotion and Improvement Officers, HSE Health and Wellbeing teams, Sláintecare Healthy Communities Development Officers or other relevant officers, teams or networks, such as Age Friendly Ireland.
- Up to €70,000 per project is available in 2026. Subject to budgetary availability, we hope to have a similar level of funding available in 2027.
Strand B: Shared Island runs from mid 2026 to end 2028
- The lead applicant must be a local authority in Ireland
- Shared Island Up to €90,000 per project is available for 2026.
Creative Communities on a Shared Island, local authority partnerships with creative and community organisations grant call
Creative Communities is a partnership initiative between the Creative Ireland Programme and Ireland’s 31 local authorities. It is supported by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Creative Communities and local authorities use creativity to encourage wellbeing, social cohesion and economic success. Each local authority has a Culture and Creativity Team, led by a Director of Service. These teams bring together expertise from across the entire local authority and deliver the Creative Communities projects in their area.
The Creative Communities on a Shared Island Fund runs from mid-2026 to November 2028.
Strand 1: Total of €750,000. Awards of up to €250,000 each for a maximum of three large-scale proposals.
Strand 2: Total of €600,000. Awards of up to €150,000 to individual local authorities in Ireland.
Strand 3: Total of €250,000. Five awards of €50,000 for small scale-projects.
Creative Youth Nurture Fund grant call (with a Shared Island dimension).
Strand A: Nurture Fund runs from mid 2026 to end 2027.
Strand A: Nurture Fund is for projects delivered in Ireland by a partner based in Ireland. €800k in funding is available in 2026–2027 to deliver approximately eight projects.
The maximum funding is €100,000 per project.
Strand B: Nurture Fund Shared Island runs from mid 2026 to end 2028.
Strand B: Nurture Fund Shared Island is for Shared Ireland projects. One partner must be based in Ireland, and one in Northern Ireland. €1.5m in funding is available in 2026–2028 to deliver up to six projects.
The maximum funding is €250,000 per project.
These new funding opportunities advance Creative Ireland’s mission to support inclusive, meaningful participation in creativity, strengthen communities, and nurture everyone’s creative potential.
Closing Date: February 27, 2026 — 1pm
Learn More & Apply
Two in-person Grant information sessions will take place, and all are welcome to attend. Booking is required:
January 14, 2026 | MAC Belfast, (Booking link)
January 22, 2026 | Raddison Blue Hotel, Golden Lane Dublin (Booking link)