County Longford Culture Night

Culture Night Friday 18 September 2026. Get Involved

Longford County Council is pleased to confirm that Culture grant programme Night will take place on Friday 18th of September 2026 from 4pm till late and is making a small available to artists, creatives and organisations interested in participating.

Culture Night is an annual all-island public event that celebrates culture, creativity and the arts. It seeks to actively promote the belief that this rich and varied culture is alive, treasured and nurtured in people’s lives. Special and unique events and workshops are specifically programmed at participating locations and thanks to the continued support of the Arts Council and local Authorities, all activities are made available to the public free of charge. This year Night-Time Economy Longford is providing additional funding for artists and culture organisations who wish to deliver night-time events in Longford town after 6pm.

What are we looking for?

If you are a creative practitioner/artist, not-for-profit organisation, local community group, an arts, heritage and cultural group, venue, and/or a society based in County Longford, you may apply for a grant to support a Culture Night event. 

We are looking to celebrate the value that art, culture and creativity bring to our lives and provide a platform and exposure for cultural organisations, activities, facilities and community groups. This could mean opening the door of a venue or organisation to the public which might otherwise be closed at that time of day or creating an event that reminds us all about the fantastic cultural facilities and resources that we have locally that we can experience year-round.

 

Areas of particular interest:

  1. Heritage - we are looking for specific proposals from organisations and creative practitioners operating in any discipline to propose an event that interacts with Co. Longford's natural, built and/or cultural heritage.
  2. Events that celebrate new communities and underrepresented voices. Events should promote and connect artists from marginalised backgrounds and showcase the culturally diverse communities living in the County, particularly, but not limited to, the following often marginalised groups:
  • asylum seekers, refugees and migrants
  • D/deaf culture or arts and disability
  • Irish Traveller culture
  • those promoting gender equality
  • under-represented groups
  1. Events organised by or in collaboration with young people.

 

Funding:

Small Grants awards of €1000 or less are available to support organisations / individuals with costs associated with staging events. Grant awards are assessed by an independent panel on the basis of information supplied in the Expression of interest application and with regard to the grant criteria.

 

All events must embrace the following:

  • Be free.
  • Be registered through Longford Arts Service and uploaded to www.culturenight.ie
  • Embrace the Arts Council’s Pay the Artist policy and ensure that all engaged artists and practitioners are paid, unless participating in a voluntary capacity or as part of a community group.
  • Be open to all and seek to create a sense of community and belonging.

 

Application forms can be downloaded here

 

The closing date for receipt of Applications is 5pm Friday 10th July 2026 and any questions should be emailed to artsoffice@longfordcoco.ie.

Culture Night Longford is brought to you by the Arts Council / An Comhairle Ealaíon, in partnership with local authorities and cultural organisations and Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport.