Ireland launches €6m Arts Capital Investment Fund to shore up aging cultural venues

Image: Project Arts Centre, Dublin

The Irish government has opened applications for a new €6 million Arts Capital Investment Fund, a pilot program aimed at upgrading the equipment and physical condition of the country's arts and culture facilities.

Applications opened October 1 and the pilot runs for 11 weeks. The fund splits into three strands: equipment grants for dedicated arts and culture facilities, construction and refurbishment grants for those same facilities, and equipment support for community groups.

The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport has framed the money around accessibility upgrades, climate-related improvements, and health and safety fixes. This is the type of capital work that keeps venues, galleries, and studios operating but rarely attracts dedicated funding on its own.

Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O'Donovan TD and Minister of State Noel Grealish TD announced the program at Bray's Mermaid Arts Centre. Neither minister's office has said whether the pilot will lead to a larger, recurring fund if this round is oversubscribed.

Find out more about the funding opportunity here: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/publications/creative-arts-grants-and-funding/