News & Views

The Creative Ireland Programme is delighted to announce three new funding calls to a combined value of €4.6 million supporting creativity, connection and wellbeing across the island of Ireland.

1. Creative Communities on a Shared Island

The Creative Communities on a SharedIsland Fund runs from mid 2026 to November 2028.

Strand 1: Total of €750,000. Awards of up to €250,000 each for a maximum of three large-scale proposals.

Strand 2: Total of €600,000. Awards of up to €150,000 to individual local authorities in Ireland.

Strand 3: Total of €250,000. Five awards of €50,000 for small scale-projects.

You can apply online only. The online application portal opens on December 1st 2025 and closes at 1pm, Friday 27th February 2026.

2. Creative Health & Wellbeing

Strand A: Creative Ireland and Healthy Ireland collaboration runs from mid 2026 to end 2027

Creative Ireland has funding in 2026–27 for partnerships of at least two local authorities (aligned with Regional Health Authority) to deliver arts and health projects in the community and HSE community and hospital settings.

The lead applicant must be a local authority. You will work with HSE and local or national arts, cultural or creative organisations to deliver these projects.

Projects should be developed and delivered by the Creative Ireland and Healthy Ireland teams in local authorities. This team will work with cultural and creative partners and (if appropriate) with the relevant HSE Health Promotion and Improvement
Officers, HSE Health and Wellbeing teams, Sláintecare Healthy Communities Development Officers or other relevant officers, teams or networks, such as Age Friendly Ireland.

Strand B: Shared Island runs from mid 2026 to end 2028.

The lead applicant must be a local authority in Ireland.

This is for arts and health projects with a clear north-south or east-west basis, in line with Shared Island initiative objectives. Projects should enable quality in-person connection between people from both Ireland and Northern Ireland or the wider UK. At least one
project partner should be based in each of the relevant areas.

Strand A: €700,000 funding with a maximum of €70,000 per project.

Strand B: €250,000 total funding with a maximum of €90,000 per project.

You can apply online only. The online application portal opens on December 1st 2025 and closes at 1pm, Friday 27th February 2026.

Creative Youth Nurture Fund

Strand A: Nurture Fund runs from mid 2026 to end 2027.

Strand B: Nurture Fund Shared Island runs from mid 2026 to end 2028.

Strand A: Nurture Fund is for projects delivered in Ireland by a partner based in Ireland. €800k in funding is available in 2026–2027 to deliver approximately eight projects. The maximum funding is €100,000 per project.

Strand B: Nurture Fund Shared Island is for Shared Ireland projects. One partner must be based in Ireland, and one in Northern Ireland. €1.5m in funding is available in 2026–2028 to deliver up to six projects.

The maximum funding is €250,000 per project.

You can apply online only. The online application portal opens on December 1st 2025 and closes at 1pm, Friday 27th February 2026.

Full Details

Full details available here: https://www.creativeireland.gov.ie/en/creative-grant-call-2025/