Project Arts Grants 2027
Project Grants support the creation or presentation of new artistic work within the Dublin City Council administrative area.
Projects may include exhibitions, performances, publications, or other artistic initiatives involving professional artists.
For the purposes of this grant, a professional artist is an individual who maintains an active artistic practice and is demonstrably engaged in and recognised within the professional field of their artform.
This is an annual grant and is offered once per year, subject to available funding.
Applications are assessed competitively based on the assessment criteria and the funding available .
The closing date for applications is 12 noon, Wednesday 28 October 2026
The Project Grant is open to:
● individual professional artists
● arts organisations
● producers or curators who are engaging at least one professional artist for this project
Dublin City Council Arts Office is committed to supporting equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of its work. Applications are welcome from artists, arts workers, organisations and groups of all backgrounds and experiences.
Applicants may request a grant of between €5,000 and €10,000. The amount requested must be within the funding limits for this scheme (excluding personal access costs).
The grant may cover up to 70% of the total project cost (excluding access costs). Applications must show that at least 30% of project income will come from sources other than this grant (confirmed or anticipated).
The 70% limit is calculated based on the total project cost, not the organisation’s annual budget, and excludes access costs.
Example calculation:
● Total project cost: €14,286
● Maximum grant (70%): €10,000
● Minimum income from other sources (30%): €4,286
Applying to multiple funding strands
Applicants may apply to more than one Dublin City Council Arts Office grants. However, organisations may receive funding from a maximum of two grants, to a combined total of €40,000
Project Grants support arts organisations and individuals to realise public presentation of new work for the Dublin City Council administrative area.
The project for which funding is sought must have a public presentation in the Dublin City Council administrative area.
Applications are assessed competitively against the criteria below, with each section weighted as indicated. Assessors will consider the information provided across the application form and supporting material when scoring each section.
Artistic Ambition (40%)
- Artistic quality, ambition and originality of the proposed project
- Clarity of the artistic concept and approach
- Experience, track record and suitability of the artistic team
Engagement (20%)
- Clear plans for engaging audiences or participants
- Approach to diversity, accessibility and inclusion
- Relevance of the project to communities in Dublin
Feasibility and Delivery (40%)
Realistic planning and delivery of the project within the proposed timeframe
- Appropriate partnerships, collaborators or venues where relevant
- Financial viability and equitable payment of artists and arts workers
Download our Project Award 2027 Submittable Guidance Document which explains the application questions in greater detail. We recommend printing this and keeping it beside you through the process.
Download the Project Guidance Document here PDF Version
Our team of Arts Officers offer information sessions ahead of the Arts Grants deadline each year.
The aim of our information sessions is to provide help and guidance with all aspects of the online application process. The information session will be led by the Arts Officer Team.
Unfortunately this years info session did not record due to a glitch but we have uploaded last years session below which is similar in layout, consisting of a The Project session consists of a walk-through of the application form, followed by questions and answers.
To watch the information session, please click the image below.
Assessment
- All applications are processed by the Arts Office team reporting to the City Arts Officer.
- Applications that are deemed ineligible will not proceed to assessment.
- Applications considered more suitable for a different funding grant may be redirected where this would benefit the applicant.
- Applications are assessed by the Arts Office team with support of independent external assessors with relevant experience and expertise. Applications are assessed competitively based on the information provided in form and supporting material.
- An independent external assessor also reviews the application and assessment process.
- All applications, funding recommendations and the external assessor’s report are considered by a Strategic Policy Committee sub-committee of the elected members of Dublin City Council.
- Following consideration by the sub-committee, final approval is sought at a full meeting of the elected members of Dublin City Council.
- Applicants will be notified by email of the outcome of their application.
Outcome of your application
If your application is successful, you will be required to:
- comply with all relevant statutory requirements and local authority byelaws, including adherence to appropriate Child Protection policies where relevant
- comply with the five key principles of the Governance Code for Community, Voluntary and Charitable Organisations (see https://app.governancecode.ie/)
- for grants of €10,000 or more, provide a current tax clearance certificate or tax clearance access number prior to the first payment and for any subsequent payments
- If your application is not successful
- Applicants may request brief feedback on your application by emailing artsoffice@dublincity.ie within 20 days of notification of the outcome. Due to the volume of applications received, it may not be possible to provide detailed feedback.
All applications must be made through Submittable.
