The Arts Council will continue to operate fully throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Their priority is to support artists and arts organisations through this difficult time. Regular updates will be provided on their website and on their social media channels.
The Arts Council is contact with a broad range of artists and organisations to give a deep understanding of how COVID-19 is impacting our sector. They are developing a detailed survey which they will be asking practitioners to respond to later this week.
The Arts Council are in daily contact with the Department of Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht and other parts of the Government, planning how best to manage through the crisis.
Budgets are limited, but in response to COVID-19, the Arts Council will announce in the next week two new ways that artists can get support.
Funding Commitments
The Arts Council has said it will honour all existing funding commitments, and allow grantees to draw down 90 percent of their funding to allow them fulfil in turn their own business commitments, especially to artists.
For individuals and organisations who have been awarded funding:
- There will be no financial penalties for organisations/individuals that are unable to deliver key activities/key services arising from the impact of the COVID-19 virus.
- Mindful of cashflow challenges that artists or organisations may experience during this time, they will be able to draw down up to 90% of their funding commitment, with immediate effect.
- This should, in turn, assist them in honouring immediate financial commitments and the Arts Council have asked organisations/individuals to prioritise commitments and payments to artists – as this is a particularly challenging time for them.
Read more about this here.
Department of Social Protection measures
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection have a range of measures to provide income support to people affected by COVID-19 (Coronavirus). For full details visit: www.gov.ie/…covid-19-coronavirus
Funding Deadlines
The deadline for Arts Grant Funding has been extended by one week to 5.30pm on Thursday 19 March. [Please note applications for this fund are now closed.]
The deadline for schools applying to the Creative Schools Initiative has now been extended to 5.30pm on Thursday 23 April.
The Travel and Training Award is closed until further notice.
This decision was taken in the context of the evolving security measures and travel restrictions adopted globally in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this temporary closure is to contribute to public health measures at a time when most countries are restricting international mobility.
The Arts Council will keep the closure of this programme under review as the situation evolves.
All applications submitted prior to the closure of the programme will be assessed as normal. Artists are advised to check international travel advice from official Government sources before planning their travel. Further information can be found on the Department of Foreign Affairs website.
Contacting the Arts Council
The Arts Council is operating as normal and you can contact them in the normal way, by phone or by email, and they will continue to post updates here and on social media as required.
Click here to find contact details for your artform or arts practice teams.
Source: Visual Artists Ireland News
