The Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan TD, has announced a new €4.7m capital investment scheme for arts and culture centres. It will run from 2019-2022 and focus on enhancing the existing stock of arts and culture centres throughout the country. It will also prioritise carbon footprint reduction in line with the Government’s action on climate change.
The Scheme builds on the success of the former Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016-2018 which saw 134 organisations in 26 counties receive funding to refurbish and enhance their arts and culture facilities.
There are three separate Streams:
* Stream 1 will offer grants up to €50,000 for small enhancement/expansion/ refurbishment projects which may involve construction works to arts and culture facilities and/or upgrading of equipment.
* Stream 2 will offer grants from €50,000 up to €300,000 for larger enhancement /expansion/ refurbishment projects involving construction works to arts and culture facilities.
* Stream 3 will be a separate scheme aimed at the upgrading of visual artists’ workspaces. Applications for this Stream will be invited separately.
The funding is being made available as part of the Capital Investment Framework 2016-2021 under Project Ireland 2040
Capital Funding Applications of up to €15,000 are now being invited for funding under Stream 3, administered by Visual Artists Ireland.
Deadline: Tuesday, 28th January 2020 at 5:00pm
Due to the conditions concerning the receipt of public funding for projects, we strongly recommend that you fully review the entire process and note the extensive paperwork that is required so as to comply with the best practice in the use of public funds.
THE SCHEME – Stream 3
Aims
Funding under this scheme is aimed at Not-for-profit visual arts organisations offering studios/work spaces to professional visual artists.
Who is eligible to apply?
The following will be considered eligible for the scheme:
- Not-for-profit organisations who delivery studio/work space services for professional visual artists;
- Such organisations must deliver services for in excess of four visual artists.
Who is not eligible to apply?
- Commercial organisations, for-profit organisations, National Cultural Institutions;
- Third level colleges, ETBs, schools, local authorities, HSE run organisations;
- Successful applicants under Streams 1, 2, or 3 of the Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016 – 2018.
- Successful applicants under the 2017 Scheme to Assist Local and Regional Museums.
Available Funding
- The scheme will offer grants of up to €15,000 to not-for-profit organisations with a defined visual arts remit.
- The maximum grant available will be 70% of the total eligible costs, subject to a maximum grant payment of €15,000.
- Applicants will be required to provide definitive documentary evidence of the availability of matching funding (30%).
- Successful applicants will receive an initial payment of 40% upon receipt of adjusted plans, a letter of acceptance, and any other paperwork that may be required as outlined in this document. 40% will be paid upon receipt of a signed interim Income and Expenditure Statement and letter of request for payment. All work must be complete before the final 20% will be paid upon receipt of a final overall Income and Expenditure Statement, with receipts for all outgoings associated with the grant.
- Only one application from any organisation will be considered.
What will be funded
- Energy efficiency projects;
- Lighting and sound equipment;
- Heating and plumbing upgrades;
- Mechanical and electrical works;
- Seating, staging and storage;
- Minor building works such as window replacement, upgrading facilities;
- Painting and decorating;
- Security systems;
- Non personal digital equipment;
- IT related projects.
What will not be funded
The following expenditure is not eligible for funding:
- Running costs, minor repairs or other ongoing costs;
- Annual Maintenance contracts;
- Professional/ Legal/ Project management fees;
- Feasibility studies;
- Subscriptions;
- Office equipment, shredders;
- Accounts system upgrade;
- Personal IT equipment and associated software packages eg laptops/ macbooks/ mobile phones/ ipads/ tablets/ blu ray players/ small cameras/ camcorders etc;
- Musical instruments;
- Vehicles;
- Kitchen equipment;
- Tools, eg drills etc;
- Projects or elements of project where works have already commenced or where contracts have been signed prior to grant award;
- Purchase of lands or buildings or new build;
- Private or commercial operations;
- Training
Only online applications will be accepted: It is important to read the full Guidelines in preparation for making an application as they contain critical information about the terms and conditions of the scheme as well as outlining the information that is required to make a full and proper application.
Capital Funding Applications of up to €15,000 – Deadline: Tuesday 28th January 2020 at 5:00pm
Online Application Form: https://vai.grantplatform.com/
Please read the following Guidelines carefully as they contain essential information on making an application.
Project Ireland 2040 is the overarching policy and planning framework for the social, economic and cultural development of our country. It sets out its vision for Ireland as a creative, innovative and culturally attuned society, whose people, businesses and communities are equipped to further our national economic output and creative endeavour.
Project Ireland 2040 incorporates the National Development Plan 2018-2027[1] a detailed capital investment plan for the period 2018 to 2027, as well as the 20-year National Planning Framework 2040[2] which will guide national, regional and local planning and investment decisions in Ireland over the next two decades.
Investing in Our Culture, Language and Heritage 2018 – 2027 is the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht’s ten-year investment plan[3] under Project Ireland 2040. This planned investment takes a modern and progressive approach to developing and protecting our culture, language and heritage and is distributed as follows:
- €460 million for our National Cultural Institutions;
- €265 million for cultural and creativity investment programme;
- €285 million for natural and built heritage;
- €178 million for the Gaeltacht, the Irish language and the islands.
[1] https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/19240/62af938dce404ed68380e268d7e9a5bb.pdf#page=1
[2] https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/166/310818095340-Project-Ireland-2040-NPF.pdf#page=1
[3] https://www.chg.gov.ie/app/uploads/2018/04/capital_plan_april3-8.pdf
Source: Visual Artists Ireland News
