Terms and Conditions
Eligibility Criteria
The Project Award is designed to support individuals or organisations to produce projects planned for the coming year that have significant artistic and cultural goals. This may include:
- festivals, events, projects.
- training, developmental work, and vocational support for artists.
- community development outcomes through quality arts.
A named professional artist must be engaged at the earliest possible stage of the proposal, and their artistic objectives must be clearly articulated.
Applications must have an overarching emphasis on artistic quality, artistic ambition and inclusivity.
Applications must be submitted by 5pm, Friday 20 December 2024. No late applications will be considered.
In-Eligibility Criteria
- An incomplete form will make an application ineligible.
- The purchase of equipment.
- General marketing, administration costs and utilities.
- Literature publication or music recording costs.
- Filmmaking production costs.
- Subsistence costs such as daily per diems, accommodation or work-related travel costs.
- Activities and costs that duplicate an organisation’s existing work.
- Activities that are more suited to another award funded by other organisations.
- Activities or costs that do not fit the purpose of the award.
- Activities that are an intrinsic part of, or directly related to, ongoing formal education.
- Activities undertaken for charity-fundraising purposes, for participation in a competition, or for primarily profit-making purposes.
Scoring criteria
Applicants are scored against four key criteria:
1. Quality and artistic ambition of the project proposed (50%): As evidenced by:
- (a) Artistic quality of proposal
- (b) track record of artistic personnel
2. Feasibility of the project in confirmed and committed resources (30%): As evidenced by:
- (a) Technical achievability: Can the proposal be realised within the timeframe and with the levels of finance and other resources evidenced in the application.
- (b) Letters of support or confirmation of funding
- (c) Ability to secure at least 40% of the total funding required from other sources.
- (d) An identified audience and a clear marketing and sales plan to reach target audience
- (e) Clear budget including equitable payment to artists.
3. Cultural benefit for County Longford (20%). Your application must demonstrate tangible benefits for the strategic development of art and culture within County Longford.
In addition to the above criteria, the company, artist or team must ensure there is compliance with all statutory requirements and local authority bye-laws, including adherence to Child Protection Policy.
Annual Priorities
All individuals or organisations (at any stage in their development) are eligible to apply for a project grant. In 2025, We specifically encourage applications from individuals or organisations seeking to develop arts related festivals and arts event-based projects.
Arts Project FAQs
Do I need to live in Longford County Council Administrative Area?
You do not need to live in County Longford to be eligible. However, your application must demonstrate tangible benefits for the development of art and culture within County Longford.
Can I apply for more than one award?
Yes, you can apply for all County Longford Arts awards.
How many project Awards will there be in 2025?
There will be no more than 7 awards in 2025.
Is a training course eligible for the project award?
Yes, training courses and mentorships are eligible for the project. Any proposed training would need to demonstrate need, and provide details of target group, training content and training delivery.
Is the purchase of equipment eligible?
The purchase of equipment (for example, cameras, laptops, speakers).
Are publication costs of literature eligible?
The publication costs related to literature are ineligible.
Are recording costs of music eligible?
The production costs related to music recording are ineligible.
Are subsistence or travel costs eligible?
Subsistence costs such as daily per diems or work-related travel costs are ineligible.
What are examples of 'capacity building'?
Capacity building is the process by which individuals or organisations improve processes, skills and other resources to deliver quality arts projects.
What details should be supplied about estimated income?
Estimated income could include grants-in-process, box-office, vendors, fundraising, or in-kind support from a venue or organisation.
Are there recommended guidelines for calculating artist fees in the budget?
Resource organisations such as Visual Artists Ireland, Theatre Forum or Dance Ireland may be able to suggest industry standards for payment related to experience.
Will this Project funding support be repeated?
It is hoped that the Arts project award will be repeated annually but at present it is conditional on year-to-year funding.
Can I apply for the project award every year?
Yes, you may apply every year. Being successful in attaining funding does not guarantee funding in subsequent years.
How many supporting samples of work should I include?
A maximum of three examples of your work can be included. Be selective, put in examples of practice and clearly label what these examples relate to help your application.
