Current Funding Supports and Opportunities
1. Live Local Performance Scheme – Phase IV
Clare County Council is seeking applications from all interested parties including Performing Artists (ensembles/bands or individuals), Promoters, Producers, Venues etc, who wish to receive support for performance events in County Clare from May 1st to June 30th, 2022
Clare County Council will provide support for people in the live performance industry to facilitate programming of live performances animating local communities, subject to public health considerations. Performances can be recorded or streamed if health restrictions prevent live events or as Clare County Council deem to be appropriate.
All genres of performance (Music, Spectacle, Circus, Street Arts etc) are encouraged to apply to this scheme. Small scale solo performances and unplugged presentations through to amplified concerts will be considered. We welcome joint applications from producers and performing artists. Family or all-ages performance events are particularly welcome. The proposal may be for multiple or single events. All events must be either free of charge or have a nominal charge.
Clare County Council aims to have a balance of proposals throughout each Local Electoral Area.
Clare County Council encourages the presentation of range of performance types and multiple genres with due regard to gender equality and diversity.
All performances will be marketed under the banner of the Clare Live Performance Scheme.
Previous applicants are welcome to apply but priority will be given to
a) locations where performances have yet to take place
b) musicians are supported who have not been previously supported in pervious Phases
c) Family friendly events
The deadline for receipt of applications is 4pm on August 5th, 2022. Applications may be made here
Previous Funding Supports and Opportunities
Opportunities for funding from Clare County Council arise throughout the year, as government departments offer funding and / or create new schemes. For information purposes only we have listed schemes that may come on line over the coming 12 months include the following.
1. Drama League of Ireland Summer School Bursary – Applications now closed
Clare County Council is offering a bursary award to drama practitioners living in Clare to enable them to attend the Drama League of Ireland Summer School at the University of Limerick from July 31st – August 7th, 2021. Priority will be given to candidates who would not be able to otherwise attend due to financial hardship.
2021 DLI Bursary Application Form & Guidelines
2. Creative Climate Action Fund – Closed for applications
3. Duala – Creator in Residence Scheme – Closed for applications
Nuala Kennedy and Tara Breen are the recipients of the 2020 Duala Creator in Residence Scheme, run in association with the Irish Traditional Music Archive.
Diarmuid de Faoite is the 2021 recipient.
4. Engine Shorts – Closed for applications
ENGINE Shorts aims to inspire and support up-and-coming writers, directors and producers to create inspiring, engaging world-class short films that resonate with a wide international audience. Run by Innovate Limerick / Film in Limerick the ENGINE Short Film Scheme is a partnership between Arts Offices in Clare, Limerick and Tipperary. Clare Arts Office is participating with the support of Creative Ireland.
15 projects were shortlisted, including five from Clare, after 131 applications were received from across the Mid-West region
Each shortlisted team then went through a supported development process with training and support from Film in Limerick. Following the development stage, the 15 shortlisted teams pitched to an industry panel. Nell Hensey’s short film Try and Touch was the selected film from Clare.
5. Creative Ireland Project Awards 2022 – Applications now closed
The closing date for applications was Friday 11 February 2022 at 12:00 noon.
Creative Ireland is a five-year initiative, from 2017 to 2022, which places creativity at the centre of public policy. As part of Clare’s 2022 Creative Ireland programme, Clare County Council invited applications for project awards that would develop bodies of creative work in the community with a public interface/engagement. Awards of €500 – €2,000 were granted.
Individuals and groups were invited to make applications to creatively explore the following themes through any discipline, e.g. visual art, film, music, theatre, dance, etc. that would cover the arts and heritage sector.
- Well-being of communities (geographical or communities of interest)
- Cultural heritage and traditions
- Sense of place
- Heritage (which may include historical exploration)
- STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics)
- Climate change
Projects could either be new initiatives or, in the case of projects/programmes of activity underway, they should have demonstrated a marked development in how this award would impact on the local community, in terms of scale or scope of the project.
Queries on the 2023 round of funding should be directed to creativeireland@clarecoco.ie
6. Decade of Centenaries Arts Commissions – Applications now closed
Detail from Georgina_Frost by Marie Connole
The closing date for applications was Monday 28th February, 2022 at 12:00 noon.
Clare County Council will make 3 awards in 2022 of €4,500 each to support artists and / or creative communities in developing community-led commemorative initiatives. In addition a short film will be made on the process of each commission. See our 2021 film to get a sense of what’s involved and to see the work commissioned and created in 2021.
It is envisaged that the interpretation of the historical events by our artists and creative practitioners will provide a platform to encourage reflection and the consideration of issues, both past and present, which may be challenging, difficult and sometimes deeply personal.
Guidelines, suggested themes for consideration and the online application form is available here Queries can be directed to us at arts@clarecoco.ie
7. Assistance under the Arts Act Grants Scheme 2022 – Applications now closed
The closing date for applications was March 11th, 2022
The Assistance under the Arts Act Grant Scheme is coordinated by the Rural Development Directorate through the Community Supports Scheme. All inquiries to css@clarecoco.ie.
Under the scheme assistance is given to arts activities that
- stimulate public interest in the arts
- provide knowledge, appreciation and practice of the arts
- improve the standard of the arts in Clare.
There are 3 categories of support:
- Artist Support – Support for individual artists / artists projects
- Organisational Support / Events & Projects Assistance – Support for arts organisations general activities and for once off or key events in the county
- Traditional Arts – Support specifically relating to the traditional arts e.g. music & dance
Full details on how to make an application are available here.
8. Platform 31
The closing date for applications was 4pm on March 30th, 2022
The Association of Local Authority Arts Offices, in collaboration with the Arts Council, present PLATFORM 31 2022: a national opportunity for artists to reflect on and investigate how they might significantly develop their practice or make work in a new way, while being connected with and supported by peer practitioners, advisors and mentors.
Designed to support and enable career development for 31 mid-career artists (one artist in each of the 31 local authorities around Ireland), there are two elements of support for participating artists in the scheme: financial and developmental.
In 2022, participating artists will receive an €8,000 bursary to invest in themselves and their practice, combined with participation in a developmental and networking framework.
Outcomes-focused and not output-driven, the scheme will provide coaching and advisory support and create networking opportunities for participating artists, introducing them to a pool of critical thinkers to share their work and learnings, and encouraging a national conversation about creating work in local contexts.
The exact content of this artist support framework, which will last for approx. 6 months from May to October 2022, will be informed by the interests of the 31 artists selected.
The deadline for receipt of applications is 4pm on March 30th, 2022
Click here for further information and to make an online application
9. Tyrone Guthrie Centre Bursary
The closing date for applications was 4pm on April 4th, 2022
Clare County Council offers an annual bursary to the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Co. Monaghan.
10. Mapping Arts and Disability provision in Mayo, Clare and Galway City
The closing date for applications was 4pm on April 6th, 2022
Mayo County Council Arts Service, Clare County Council Arts Office and Galway City Council Arts Office seek to engage the services of a suitably qualified and experienced individual or organisation to undertake an arts and disability research project on a contract for services basis.
For further information please contact Damien O’Connor, Mayo County Council arts office on 094 906 4363 (Tuesdays and Wednesdays only) or doconnor@mayococo.ie.
11. PRISM – Ennis Street Art Programme
The closing date for applications was 4pm on April 29th, 2022
Clare County Council, with the support of Creative Ireland, are seeking proposals for street art in the Ennis Local Electoral Area.
Over the years our town has seen beautiful, engaging, quirky and provocative street art by the likes of Conor Harrington, Eva Menes and Martin Shannon and many others. Supported and enabled by organisations such as glór, Ennis Street Art Festival and Ennis Chamber of Commerce, the strength of many of the street art initiatives has stemmed from partnerships between artists and organisations, businesses, community groups and the local authorities.
Clare Arts Office is now looking to further this through the PRISM scheme and welcomes proposals that feature partnerships with artists that will animate Ennis and surrounding areas over the summer months. It is important to note that letters of permission from property owners for the proposed works must accompany applications.
As much of Ennis Town Centre is in an ACA (Architectural Conservation Area) the Arts Office, the Arts Office will liaise with the Planning Department of Clare County Council regarding the creation of the artworks. Murals are not exempt from planning permission, however, exemptions may be granted under the Planning Act Section 4 (1) (f) for works carried out on behalf of, or jointly or in partnership with, a local authority.
It is planned, subject to funding, to roll this scheme out to the other Local Electoral Area’s on a rolling annual basis.
For futher details and to make an application click here
To support artists and community groups interested in submitting community mural projects a special webinar with Sara Foust will take place on Wednesday. April 6th at 9.30am. You can register in advance at arts@clarecoco.ie
12.Musicians on Call
The closing date for applications was May 4th, 2022
Clare County Council is delighted to be involved in the Musicians on Call project with Kids Classics. Kids Classics are currently recruiting for 2 musicians to join the programme.
13 Culture Night Co-Ordinator
