Wicklow County Arts Office 

Artist Award Scheme 2026

Please read criteria and guidelines here before applying

Wicklow Arts Office uses the Submittable platform for applications. When you have created your Submittable account, the application form will be available below.

When completing the form, your application will be saved automatically as a draft as you go along. When logging into Submittable, your draft application is saved under the ‘Submissions’ tab, then click on ‘Saved Drafts’. 

Wicklow Arts Office is holding an online funding clinic on Thursday 11th December 2025 at 11:00am to support applicants understanding of the process. This funding clinic will be recorded and made available on the Wicklow Arts Office website for future reference. Register for the funding clinic here.

If you have any questions about the Artist Award Scheme 2026, please contact Wicklow Arts Office on wao@wicklowcoco.ie 

Wicklow County Arts Office 

Artist & Community Collaboration Award Scheme 2026 

Please read criteria and guidelines here before applying

Wicklow Arts Office uses the Submittable platform for applications. When you have created your Submittable account, the application form will be available below.

When completing the form, your application will be saved automatically as a draft as you go along. When logging into Submittable, your draft application is saved under the ‘Submissions’ tab, then click on ‘Saved Drafts’. 

Wicklow Arts Office is holding an online funding clinic on Thursday 11th December 2025 at 11:00am to support applicants understanding of the process. This funding clinic will be recorded and made available on the Wicklow Arts Office website for future reference. Register for the funding clinic here.

If you have any questions about the Artist Award Scheme 2026, please contact Wicklow Arts Office on wao@wicklowcoco.ie

Wicklow County Arts Office 

Arts Festival Award Scheme 2026

Please read criteria and guidelines here before applying

Wicklow Arts Office uses the Submittable platform for applications. When you have created your Submittable account, the application form will be available below.

When completing the form, your application will be saved automatically as a draft as you go along. When logging into Submittable, your draft application is saved under the ‘Submissions’ tab, then click on ‘Saved Drafts’. 

Wicklow Arts Office is holding an online funding clinic on Thursday 11th December 2025 at 11:00am to support applicants understanding of the process. This funding clinic will be recorded and made available on the Wicklow Arts Office website for future reference. Register for the funding clinic here.

If you have any questions about the Arts Festival Award Scheme 2026, please contact Wicklow Arts Office on wao@wicklowcoco.ie

WICKLOW SHORT FILM AWARD SCHEME 2026

Screen Wicklow and Wicklow Arts Office are pleased to announce the Wicklow Short Film Award for 2026. The purpose of the award is to support Wicklow filmmakers to make high-quality, original films in the county. Narrative films, documentary, digital film and animation are all eligible to apply. The Wicklow Short Film Award is funded by Wicklow County Council and the Arts Council. 

For 2026, there will be a maximum of 2 grants of up to €15,000 each for the production of a short film or documentary. Films should be approximately 10-15 minutes in duration, although animation projects may be shorter. The total fund therefore for award in 2026 is €30,000.00.

This is a film production award, and scripts must be fully developed prior to application. This award cannot be used to develop scripts or ideas, and films must be ready to go into production within two months of funding being awarded. Films must be shot in County Wicklow. 

We are seeking applicants who have a track record of filmmaking, and who can demonstrate involvement in high-quality, creative and original film. Applicants may apply individually but priority will be given to applicants who have already assembled a core creative team (including writer, director & producer). We encourage applications from teams which are representative of the diversity of cultures and backgrounds in County Wicklow, including those from communities that are currently under-represented within the screen sector. 

Wicklow County Council has a strong history of supporting the development of the film industry in the county and is proud to be host to a bourgeoning professional commercial film sector. It is our intention that making these two awards will have a significant impact on career progression for two film makers and their teams within the screen industry. progression in the film industry. 

Please note that Successful applicants must be associated with a registered production company in order to draw down the funding, and appropriate insurance must be in place prior to the commencement of filming. In collaboration with Clermont Screen Hub, successful applicants will also receive additional supports including access to co-working space. 

Screen Wicklow will also assist grant recipients with locations, permits etc. and where possible, Wicklow Arts Office and Screen Wicklow will seek to facilitate screening opportunities for the two successfully funded films. 

Questions and enquiries about the Wicklow Short Film Award may be directed to filmaward@wicklowcoco.ie and an FAQ document will be published online. 

The closing date for applications is Thursday 5th February 2026 at 4pm. 

The primary applicant must be native to County Wicklow or residing in County Wicklow for the past three consecutive years. For all further eligibility criteria and funding guidelines please see: https://wicklowcountycouncil.submittable.com/submit 

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA & FUNDING GUIDELINES

·  The primary applicant must be native to County Wicklow or residing in County Wicklow for the past three consecutive years. 

·  Part-time or full-time students are not eligible to apply. 

·  Previous winners of the Wicklow Short Film Award are eligible to apply as lead applicant or as part of a team, but it is preferable if they fulfil a different professional role on the new application. 

·  The main applicant must apply through a registered limited company. Company registration details will be requested in the Application Form. 

·  Applicants must be fully tax compliant and must provide a Tax Clearance Access Number within their application form. 

·  Projects that require significant additional finance (unless this is already in place) are not eligible. 

· Films that have either been part-shot or fully shot are not eligible. 

·  Only a single project may be submitted by any applicant.

·  Applicants must have a track record of involvement with film-making and should highlight any roles in previous productions.

·  The majority of each film must be shot in County Wicklow.

·  Shortlisted applicants must be available to attend an interview/pitching session on Thursday 26th March 2026 (to be confirmed). Specific dates and times will be confirmed and communicated when applicants have been shortlisted. 

Projects must be able to address align with the core priorities values of Screen Wicklow, Wicklow Arts Office, Wicklow County Council and the Arts Council, including equality, diversity and inclusion, in all aspects of production and the subject matter of the film.

APPLICATION PROCESS 

The Application Process will involve two stages, with shortlisted applicants being required to attend an interview/pitching session with a panel of industry specialists. 

All applications must be submitted through the Wicklow Arts Office online application platform: https://wicklowcountycouncil.submittable.com/submit 

Applicants will be required to submit the following: 

·  Completed Application Form (online) 

·  Project Synopsis (500 words) to include an outline of the plot 

·  Logline (50 words max) 

·  Copy of the full script/screenplay (please ensure the writer’s name has been removed from this document) 

·  Project Plan (include proposed film schedule, filming locations, proposed casting etc.) 

·  Film Festival/Screening Strategy (please provide information about your planned submissions to film festivals, or other screening opportunities)

·  Project Budget (including all production costs, cast, crew, travel, logistics, music etc.). If additional finance has been secured, please provide proof of funds. 

·  CV of the Primary Applicant and for any other confirmed member of the creative team (e.g. director, producer, cast etc.) 

·  Links to showreel, or samples of previous work (including main applicant and other confirmed team members. 

·  Director/Producer’s Notes and Insights (include considerations on visual style, treatment, approaches etc.)

·  Evidence/Confirmation of Ownership of Rights 

·  In the case of animation projects, please include visual samples (characters, backgrounds etc.) where possible. 

·  In the case of a documentary which focuses on another person’s life story (or similar topic), please submit a signed statement from the relevant person/people verifying that they have given their permission for the film. 

·  Additional relevant supporting material may be submitted at the discretion of the applicant. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

Applications will be assessed against 5 assessment criteria with weightings applied as below.

· The creativity/quality of the project proposal.    [40/100]

· Production Plan and Budget.  [20/100]

· The track record of the main applicant.   [10/100]

· Ability of the creative team to deliver the project. [20/100]

· Proposed Film Festival/Screening Strategy  [10/100] 

TERMS OF FUNDING 

· All films must be shot in County Wicklow. In exceptional circumstances approval may be granted for alternative locations outside of Wicklow at the discretion of the Screen Officer/Arts Officer. Where possible, post-production should also take place in County Wicklow. Screen Wicklow and Clermont Screen Hub will provide support to successful applicants in this regard. 

· Appropriate insurance must be in place prior to filming take place, and proof of insurance will be requested by the funders. 

· If production has not commenced within 2 months of the grant being awarded, the funders reserve the right to award the funding to another candidate instead (allocated in order of application scoring). 

· The legal rights to all materials submitted (including scripts, screenplays, treatments, characters etc.) must be fully and completely owned by the applicant. Scripts/screenplays must be the original work of the applicant. If a script/screenplay is an adaptation of an existing work (e.g. short story), relevant legal documentation must be submitted proving that the applicant owns all underlying rights to make the adaptation. 

· Applicants will be required to have completed all filming, editing and post-production by Wednesday 30th September 2026. Please ensure your filming schedule allows for this timeframe. 

· Wicklow County Council, Wicklow Arts Office, Screen Wicklow and The Arts Council must be acknowledged in the film credits, as well as on all related websites, social media, publicity and marketing materials. The relevant logos must be included in the final cut of the finished films. 

· Health & Safety Regulations, Equal Opportunities Policies, Child Protection & Safeguarding, Garda Vetting and other relevant policies and legislation must be in place and adhered to at all times. 

· If shortlisted, the main applicant must attend an in-person interview where they will be invited to pitch their film to a panel of industry specialists. It is advisable that all members of the core creative team (writer, director, producer) also attend this interview. 

DISCLAIMER – please read carefully 

It will be a condition of any application for funding under the terms and conditions of the Wicklow County Council – The Arts Council project that the applicant has read, understood and accepted the following: 

1. Wicklow County Council shall not be liable to the applicant or any other party in respect of any loss, damage or costs of any nature arising directly or indirectly from: 

• The application or the subject matter of the application. 

• The rejection for any reason of any application. 

2. Wicklow County Council shall not be held responsible or liable, at any time in any circumstances, in relation to any matter whatsoever arising in connection with the administration of activities. In respect of monies provided by Wicklow County Council, the Council does not undertake the role of ‘Client’ or ‘Employer’ as defined in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.

3. By submitting an application, applicants agree to the processing and disclosure of the applicant’s information by Wicklow County Council, and to other third parties if required for Fund administration, reporting, evaluation and audit purposes; and successful applicants further consent to the disclosure of this information (e.g. name of successful applicant, amount of award, event details, etc.) by these parties in connection with the marketing or promotion of the Fund. Personal data will be processed only in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Data Protection legislation. 

Awards maybe divided or withheld at the discretion of Wicklow County Council. The assessment panel decision is final. 

Late and / or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Funded by Wicklow County Council

The Sing in Wicklow Award has been specifically created to advance the professional development of choirs, singing groups, and professional choir leaders in order to extend valuable opportunities for community participation in choral singing. 

This Award forms part of a wider set of actions created by Wicklow County Council and funded by Creative Ireland to support the existing community choral infrastructure and enhance participation levels under the Creative Wicklow Strategy 2023 – 2027. 

The Award is being administered by Wicklow County Council, and will be evaluated by the Wicklow County Creative Ireland assessment board.    

Who is eligible to apply 

All choirs, singing groups and musical directors based in County Wicklow can apply. All proposals should be of benefit to the residents of the county. 

Applications can be made by choir/singing group members or musical directors. The lead applicant is required to have a bank account into which the awarded funds will be deposited if the application is successful. The lead applicant must pay any expenses relating to the successful application directly from the awarded funds.

All proposed projects/events/initiatives must be completed before the 30th September 2026.

What amounts are available 

Grants of up to €1,000 will be allocated per selected proposal. The fund is limited and eligible applications will be evaluated on a competitive basis. There is no guarantee of funding for projects which achieve the minimum eligibility criteria.    

How to Apply 

Applications must be made through the online platform *Submittable where you will be able to upload all supporting material along with your application form. The *Submittable platform works best on Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. Internet Explorer is not supported.  Only completed submissions received via the approved application process will be considered.  

Faxed/Emailed/Posted applications will not be accepted. Incomplete and late applications will not be considered. 

Applicants must include a budget outline.

Applicants also must include supporting information as relevant to their proposal as follows:

• Letter(s) of support(s) from the course, workshop, trainer, coach, etc. if detailed within this application.
• CV/Biography of facilitator / artist / musical director / choir leader 
• Up to five examples of work or items that demonstrates a track record. This can include images, reviews, treatments, draft scores, or audio or video recordings (links to YouTube, Vimeo, Soundcloud, MP4 etc.). 

Applications must be received by 4pm Thursday 5th February 2026 

If successful, how funding is drawn down 

Payment will be made to successful applicants on signing a 'Letter of Agreement' and confirmation of appropriate insurance cover being in place.   

On completion of the project, a short 'Project Report Form' (to be supplied by Wicklow County Council) must be completed and include the following:

• A copy of the project output or other evidence that the project is complete e.g. photographic and/or video graphic evidence
• An expenditure report outlining how the funding was applied  along with evidence of payment(s)  i.e. a copy of all paid invoices/payment receipts. The combined total of all invoices/payment receipts should match the  amount of funding awarded.
• Copies of all press and media coverage

What typical projects are included in this fund?

• Participation in specialist professional workshops for choir members 
• Facilitate inter-choir collaborations, such as performances, training, peer learning, and networking
• Attendance and/or participation in choir competitions 
• Support the recruitment of new members 
• Increase capacity within existing choral groups
• Commission strategic development and planning

What items and expenses are NOT ELIGIBLE  from the fund? 

• Alcohol / Hospitality/ Food & Drink expenses
• Spend on fines, penalty payments, legal cost, audit fees or general overheads (e.g. rent, utility bills).
• Expenditure which was incurred prior to the approval of grant aid.
• Capital asset Purchases e.g. musical equipment 

Acknowledgement 

Successful applicants will receive a 'Letter of Offer'.  Once you have been notified that your application has been successful, you must ensure that your project is promoted as part of this initiative, appropriate guidelines to support this will be included in your 'Letter of Offer'. 

Please note:  Wicklow County Council and Creative Ireland Logos/ acknowledgement must feature on all publicity, press and marketing material produced in connection with grant aided projects.    

Conditions

• All awards are subject to the availability of funds. Awards may be withheld or divided at the discretion of Wicklow County Council.
• The lead applicant (choir member or musical director) is required to have a bank account into which the awarded funds will be deposited if the application is successful. The lead applicant must pay any expenses relating to the successful application directly from the awarded funds.
• All choirs must be based in County Wicklow and be of benefit to the residents of the county. Applicants must clearly indicate their relationship with the county as outlined in the application form.
• Applicants must provide evidence that any organisational commitment referenced by the choir in support of their application has been confirmed, e.g. letters of support to show that a particular mentor is available, a place on a course is secured, or, confirmation of participation in a choir competition. 
• Applications and supporting documentation must be submitted online via the link provided on our website.
• Applications must be complete and have all relevant supporting documentation. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be accepted. 
• No emailed or posted applications will be accepted. Applicants must apply through the online platform.
• All applications must adhere to the guidelines set out.
• An online acknowledgement will be sent to the applicant confirming receipt of an application.
• Applicants will be notified of outcomes as soon as is practicable, however, it is anticipated that the overall process from the submission of applications to notification will take 6-8 weeks.
• At project completion, successful applicants will be required to submit documentation and high-quality visuals along with a brief report, an income and expenditure account and copies of all payment receipts .
• Wicklow County Council must be credited in any publicity relating to the work which was supported under this scheme. A letter of offer will set out our specific branding and crediting requirements. 
• Where relevant, compliance with Health & Safety and best practice and legislation in child protection as outlined by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality must be adhered to. 
• Proposals should be realised in full within the timeframe specified in the application.
• Wicklow County Council reserves the right to review the award scheme at any time and as a result may make any changes necessary without any prior notice.
• Applicants are required to read the Wicklow County Council GDPR statement in its entirety.   

For queries on submitting your Award application to Wicklow Arts Office please email creativewicklow@wicklowcoco.ie

Disclaimer – please read carefully 

It will be a condition of any application for funding under the terms and conditions of the Wicklow County Council – Creative project that the applicant has read, understood and accepted the following: 

1. Wicklow County Council shall not be liable to the applicant or any other party in respect of any loss, damage or costs of any nature arising directly or indirectly from: 

• The application or the subject matter of the application. 
• The rejection for any reason of any application. 

2. Wicklow County Council shall not be held responsible or liable, at any time in any circumstances, in relation to any matter whatsoever arising in connection with the administration of activities. In respect of monies provided by Wicklow County Council, the council does not undertake the role of ‘Client’ or ‘Employer’ as defined in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.

3. By submitting an application, applicants agree to the processing and disclosure of the applicant’s information by Wicklow County Council, and to other third parties if required, for Fund administration, reporting, evaluation and audit purposes; and successful applicants further consent to the disclosure of this information (e.g. name of successful applicant, amount of award, event details, etc.) by these parties in connection with the marketing or promotion of the Fund.  Personal data will be processed only in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Data Protection legislation. 

Closing Date for Applications:  Thursday 5th February 2026 @ 4pm.

Queries can be directed to : creativewicklow@wicklowcoco.ie 

Please make your subject line ‘Sing In Wicklow Awards 2026’.  This email support service is available up to to 5pm Thursday, 29th January 2026. 

Guidelines for Applicants 

Background to the Creative Ireland Programme

Wicklow County Council’s Culture and Creativity Team aims to support partnerships and increase opportunities for communities throughout County Wicklow to engage creatively with arts, culture, heritage, climate action and biodiversity in ways that are innovative, ambitious and dynamic.

Wicklow County Council seeks high quality applications featuring innovative ways to increase engagement between people, cultural heritage, climate action, biodiversity and creativity. 

Awarded projects in the past include music concerts and masterclasses, heritage interpretation (e.g. trails, podcasts, and signage) diversity and inclusion initiatives, and creative engagements for children and young people.

Creative Ireland is a Government of Ireland Programme which places creativity at the centre of public policy, connecting people, creativity and wellbeing. This Programme is built around the key themes of: Creative Youth, Creative Communities, Creative Industries, Creative Health and Wellbeing, and Creative Climate Action and Sustainability.

Wicklow County Council recognises the value of creativity as part of our cultural services provision delivered through the Creative Ireland Programme. For full details see: https://www.creativeireland.gov.ie/en/wicklow/

Creative Wicklow Grant Scheme Objectives: 

Wicklow County Council seeks to support projects that communicate and celebrate aspects of Wicklow people and place in creative and innovative ways. We are looking for projects that effectively capture and showcase the richness of County Wicklow’s arts, culture, creativity, heritage, nature, biodiversity, and history. 

Projects should be of a high standard with a countywide relevance in keeping with the objectives of the Wicklow Creative Strategy. Initiatives that target the engagement of new, marginalised and disadvantaged audiences will be particularly welcomed. 

Projects outputs may include a wide range of formats such as podcasts, video/film, exhibition, trails, oral recordings, publications, interpretive signage or a mixture of all.

Applicants are also encouraged to consider presenting the work as part of key calendar events such as Culture Night, Heritage Week or Biodiversity Week for example.

The Fund is administered by Wicklow County Council and will be evaluated by the Wicklow County Council Culture and Creativity Team.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY:

This fund is open to not-for-profit organisations, local community groups, arts, heritage, biodiversity and cultural groups, venues and societies. 

Applications by individuals must be in partnership with local community, arts, heritage, biodiversity and cultural groups. If an application is successful; the funding will only be paid to the community group, not to an individual.

To be eligible for funding, the project/event/initiative must be based in or relate to County Wicklow The project/event/initiative must be completed before 30th September 2026 and all final report documentation submitted to the Wicklow County Creative Ireland programme team by the 30th September 2026.

WHAT AMOUNTS ARE AVAILABLE?

Grants up to €3,000 will be allocated per project to successful candidates. The fund is limited and eligible projects will be evaluated on a competitive basis. There is no guarantee of funding for projects that achieve the minimum eligibility criteria.

WHAT TYPES OF PROJECT ARE TYPICALLY INCLUDED IN THE FUND?

Projects and events that relate to the key themes of the Creative Ireland programme

Podcasts, video/film, exhibition, trails, oral recordings, publications, interpretive signage

Creative workshops / projects /events for people of all ages based on arts, culture, heritage, climate action and biodiversity

Archive projects, e.g. photographic collections and/or oral histories of people and place, digitisation of records for contribution to Wicklow’s Community Heritage website www.wicklowheritage.org. All relevant permissions regarding copyright/ownership of material must be in place for digitisation projects and oral history projects must adhere to best practice as outlined by the Oral History Network of Ireland https://oralhistorynetworkireland.ie/practical-guidelines )

Pop up markets, museums and exhibitions

Projects that showcase stories of Wicklow’s culture and those which reveal geographic and thematic connections with cultural heritage elsewhere in County Wicklow, Ireland and/or internationally

ITEMS/EXPENSES THAT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE UNDER THIS AWARD SCHEME:

• Alcohol, food & drink, hospitality expenditure
• Fines, penalty payments
• Legal cost, audit fees, general overheads (e.g. rent / utility bills).
• Purchase of Capital Asset(s)
• Expenditure which was incurred prior to the approval of grant aid.

CRITERIA USED FOR ASSESSMENT OF APPLICATIONS:

Applications will be evaluated under the following criteria:

The extent to which the proposed project is aligned with the Creative Ireland Programme

The extent to which the proposed project is collaborative and maximizes community engagement

The extent to which the project is innovative, creative, interesting and likely to make a significant impact in the community

The feasibility and viability of project completion within the timeframe and budget allocated.

The applicant’s capacity to deliver the project and to promote it in media as relevant must be demonstrated.

HOW TO APPLY:

• Read all documentation carefully.
• Applications must be made through our online platform *Submittable. Here you will be able to upload all supporting material along with your application form.   *The Submittable platform works best on Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.  Internet Explorer is not supported.
• Complete the online application form - emailed/faxed/posted applications will not be accepted.
• The applicant name you list on the application form should be that of the Community Group (not an individual)
• Upload a Budget document. Ensure the amount of grant funding sought is included in the Budget   document.
• Upload supporting documentation 
• ·Please Note: Incomplete applications will not be considered.

CONFIRMATION

You will receive an acknowledgement email from Submittable once you have made an application.

 Applicants will be notified of outcomes as soon as is practicable, however, it is anticipated that the overall process from the submission of applications to notification will take 6-8 weeks.

 We strongly recommend that you upload your application at least forty-eight hours before the advertised deadline (4pm Thursday 5th February 2026). This will allow time to assist in resolving any technical problems should they occur.

IF SUCCESSFUL, HOW THE FUNDING IS DRAWN DOWN:

Successful applicants will receive a Letter of Agreement which must be signed and returned as directed.

Successful applicants who do not already have a Supplier Account with Wicklow County Council will need to complete Supplier Account Set Up Forms.

Successful applicants must have a bank/credit union account. The account holder name on the bank/credit union account must be that of the Community Group.

Payment will be processed when the signed Letter of Agreement is returned along with proof of insurance and a Supplier Account has been set up with Wicklow County Council. 

Please note: the payment will only be made to the community group, not to individual(s). 

On conclusion of the project, a short Project Report Form (to be supplied by Wicklow County Council) must be completed and include the following:

• A copy of the project output or other evidence of project completion e.g. photographic and/or video graphic evidence
• A final budget for the project and evidence of payments (i.e. Paid Invoices/ Receipts) to all parties.
• Copies of all press and media coverage

CONDITIONS

All awards are subject to the availability of funds. Awards may be withheld or divided at the discretion of Wicklow County Council.

1. Wicklow County Council and Creative Ireland must be credited in any publicity, press and marketing materials relating to the work supported under this scheme. Wicklow County Council and Creative Ireland logos must feature on all publicity, press and marketing material produced in connection with this scheme.  A Letter of Offer will set out the specific branding and accrediting requirements.

2. Applications must be complete and have all relevant supporting documentation. Successful applicants will be required to submit a Project Report Form (to be supplied by Wicklow County Council) and provide the following  by 30th September 2026:

a. A copy of the project output or other evidence that the project is complete e.g.  Photographic and/or video graphic evidence, (photographs and videos submitted for use must have the relevant permission signed. These signed permission(s) must be provided with the documentation – refer to letter of grant offer for full conditions)

b. A final budget for the project and evidence of payments / receipts to all parties.

c. Copies of all press and media coverage

3. All applications must adhere to the guidelines set out in this document.

4. No emailed/posted applications will be accepted, applicants must apply through our online platform.

5. All projects must either take place in, or benefit, the residents of County Wicklow. Applicants must clearly indicate their relationship with the County as per the Application Form.

6. Applicants must provide evidence that any organisational commitment referenced in support of their application has been confirmed e.g. letters of support to show that a collaborator is available, or an exhibition opportunity confirmed.

7. Proposals must be realised in full within the timeframe specified in the application.. Wicklow County Council reserves the right to review the Creative Wicklow Grant Scheme 2026 at any time and, as a result, may make any changes necessary without prior notice and at Wicklow County Council’s discretion.

8. Applications will be assessed by the Wicklow County Council Culture and Creativity Team.

9. Applicants shall be notified as soon as is practicable, however it is anticipated that the overall process from the submission of applications to the notification of outcomes will take 6-8 weeks.

10. Shortlisting is likely to apply.

11. While we encourage the participation of returning applicants, please note that if you have previously received funding from this programme in past years, you must have submitted all required final project reports, budgets and invoices for those funds. Failure to comply with this requirement will render you ineligible for consideration in the current round.

12. An online acknowledgement will be sent to you to confirm receipt of your Application.

13. Please read the Wicklow County Council GDPR statement.

14. Projects must be completed and final report documentation submitted as directed by the 30th September 2026.

DISCLAIMER – please read carefully

It is a condition of any application for funding under the terms and conditions of the Wicklow County Council – Creative Wicklow project that the applicant has read, understood and accepted the following terms and conditions:

1. Wicklow County Council shall not be liable to the applicant or any other party, in respect of any loss, damage or costs of any nature arising directly or indirectly from:

a. The application or the subject matter of the application.

b. The rejection for any reason of any application.

2. Wicklow County Council shall not be held responsible or liable, at any time in any circumstances, in relation to any matter whatsoever arising in connection with the administration of activities related to the project. In respect of funding provided by Wicklow

County Council, the Council does not undertake the role of ‘Client’ or ‘Employer’ as defined in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.

3. By submitting an application, applicants agree to the processing and disclosure of the applicant’s information by Wicklow County Council, and to other third parties if required, for Fund administration, reporting, evaluation and audit purposes; and successful applicant’s further consent to the disclosure of this information (e.g. name of successful applicant, amount of award, event details, etc.) by these parties in connection with the marketing or promotion of the Fund.  Personal data will be processed only in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Data Protection legislation.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 4pm Thursday 5th February 2026 

Application Support Service:

For questions or application support, contact: CreativeWicklow@wicklowcoco.ie

Make your subject line ‘Creative Wicklow Grant Scheme 2026’. 

The support service is available up to 5pm Thursday, 29th January 2026  

Guidelines for Applicants 

Background to the Creative Ireland Programme

Wicklow County Council’s Culture and Creativity Team aims to support partnerships and increase opportunities for communities throughout County Wicklow to engage creatively with arts, culture, heritage, climate action and biodiversity in ways that are innovative, ambitious and dynamic.

Wicklow County Council seeks high quality applications featuring innovative ways to increase engagement between people, cultural heritage, climate action, biodiversity and creativity. 

This new Award was established to support creatives and organisations in the five Municipal Districts for projects of greater innovation and scale with a broad range of participation sought.

Creative Ireland is a Government of Ireland Programme which places creativity at the centre of public policy, connecting people, creativity and wellbeing. This Programme is built around the key themes of: Creative Youth, Creative Communities, Creative Industries, Creative Health and Wellbeing, and Creative Climate Action and Sustainability. 

Wicklow County Council recognises the value of creativity as part of our cultural services provision delivered through the Creative Ireland Programme. For full details see: https://www.creativeireland.gov.ie/en/wicklow/

Creative Wicklow Innovation Award Objectives: 

Wicklow County Council seeks to support projects that communicate and celebrate aspects of Wicklow people and place in creative and innovative ways. We are looking for projects that effectively capture and showcase the richness of County Wicklow’s arts, culture, creativity, heritage, nature, biodiversity, and history. 

Projects should be of a high standard in keeping with the objectives of the Wicklow Creative Strategy. Initiatives that target the engagement of new, marginalised and disadvantaged audiences will be particularly welcomed. 

Projects outputs may include a wide range of formats such as podcasts, video/film, exhibition, trails, oral recordings, publications, interpretive signage or a mixture of all.

Applicants are also encouraged to consider presenting the work as part of key calendar events such as Culture Night, Heritage Week or Biodiversity Week for example.

The Fund is administered by Wicklow County Council and will be evaluated by the Wicklow County Council Culture and Creativity Team.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY:

This fund is open to not-for-profit organisations, local community groups, arts, heritage, biodiversity and cultural groups, venues and societies. 

Applications by individuals must be in partnership with local community, arts, heritage, biodiversity and cultural groups. If an application is successful; the funding will only be paid to the community group, not to an individual.

To be eligible for funding, the project/event/initiative must be based in or relate to County Wicklow The project/event/initiative must be completed before 30th September 2026 and all final report documentation submitted to the programme team by the 30th September 2026.

WHAT AMOUNTS ARE AVAILABLE?

Grants up to €10,000 will be allocated per project to successful candidates. The fund is limited and eligible projects will be evaluated on a competitive basis. There is no guarantee of funding for projects that achieve the minimum eligibility criteria.

WHAT TYPES OF PROJECT ARE TYPICALLY INCLUDED IN THE FUND?

Projects and events that relate to the key themes of the Creative Ireland programme

Podcasts, video/film, exhibition, trails, oral recordings, publications, interpretive signage

Creative workshops / projects /events for people of all ages based on arts, culture, heritage, climate action and biodiversity

Archive projects, e.g. photographic collections and/or oral histories of people and place, digitisation of records for contribution to Wicklow’s Community Heritage website www.wicklowheritage.org. All relevant permissions regarding copyright/ownership of material must be in place for digitisation projects and oral history projects must adhere to best practice as outlined by the Oral History Network of Ireland https://oralhistorynetworkireland.ie/practical-guidelines )

Pop up markets, museums and exhibitions

Projects that showcase stories of Wicklow’s culture and those which reveal geographic and thematic connections with cultural heritage elsewhere in County Wicklow, Ireland and/or internationally

ITEMS/EXPENSES THAT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE UNDER THIS AWARD SCHEME:

• Alcohol, food & drink, hospitality expenditure
• Fines, penalty payments
• Legal cost, audit fees, general overheads (e.g. rent / utility bills).
• Purchase of Capital Asset(s)
• Expenditure which was incurred prior to the approval of grant aid.

CRITERIA USED FOR ASSESSMENT OF APPLICATIONS:

Applications will be evaluated under the following criteria:

The extent to which the proposed project is aligned with the Creative Ireland Programme

The extent to which the proposed project is collaborative and maximizes community engagement

The extent to which the project is innovative, creative, interesting and likely to make a significant impact in the community

The feasibility and viability of project completion within the timeframe and budget allocated.

The applicant’s capacity to deliver the project and to promote it in media as relevant must be demonstrated.

HOW TO APPLY:

• Read all documentation carefully.
• Applications must be made through our online platform *Submittable. Here you will be able to upload all supporting material along with your application form.   *The Submittable platform works best on Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.  Internet Explorer is not supported.
• Complete the online application form - emailed/faxed/posted applications will not be accepted.
• The applicant name you list on the application form should be that of the Community Group (not an individual)
• Upload a Budget document. Ensure the amount of grant funding sought is included in the Budget   document.
• Upload supporting documentation 
• Please Note: Incomplete applications will not be considered.

CONFIRMATION

You will receive an acknowledgement email from Submittable once you have made an application.

Applicants will be notified of outcomes as soon as is practicable, however, it is anticipated that the overall process from the submission of applications to notification will take 6-8 weeks.

We strongly recommend that you upload your application at least forty-eight hours before the advertised deadline (4pm Thursday 5th February 2026). This will allow time to assist in resolving any technical problems should they occur.

IF SUCCESSFUL, HOW THE FUNDING IS DRAWN DOWN:

Successful applicants will receive a Letter of Agreement which must be signed and returned as directed. 

Successful applicants who do not already have a Supplier Account with Wicklow County Council will need to complete Supplier Account Set Up Forms.

Successful applicants must have a bank/credit union account. The account holder name on the bank/credit union account must be that of the Community Group.

Payment will be processed when the signed Letter of Agreement is returned along with proof of insurance and a Supplier Account has been set up with Wicklow County Council. 

Please note: the payment will only be made to the community group, not to individual(s). 

On conclusion of the project, a short Project Report Form (to be supplied by Wicklow County Council) must be completed and include the following:

• A copy of the project output or other evidence of project completion e.g. photographic and/or video graphic evidence
• A final budget for the project and evidence of payments (i.e. Paid Invoices/ Receipts) to all parties.
• Copies of all press and media coverage

CONDITIONS

All awards are subject to the availability of funds. Awards may be withheld or divided at the discretion of Wicklow County Council.

1. Wicklow County Council and Creative Ireland must be credited in any publicity, press and marketing materials relating to the work supported under this scheme. Wicklow County Council and Creative Ireland logos must feature on all publicity, press and marketing material produced in connection with this scheme.  A Letter of Offer will set out the specific branding and accrediting requirements.

2. Applications must be complete and have all relevant supporting documentation. Successful applicants will be required to submit a Project Report Form (to be supplied by Wicklow County Council) and provide the following  by 30th September 2026:

a. A copy of the project output or other evidence that the project is complete e.g.  Photographic and/or video graphic evidence, (photographs and videos submitted for use must have the relevant permission signed. These signed permission(s) must be provided with the documentation – refer to letter of grant offer for full conditions)

b. A final budget for the project and evidence of payments / receipts to all parties.

c. Copies of all press and media coverage

3. All applications must adhere to the guidelines set out in this document.

4. No emailed/posted applications will be accepted, applicants must apply through our online platform.

5. All projects must either take place in, or benefit, the residents of County Wicklow. Applicants must clearly indicate their relationship with the County as per the Application Form.

6. Applicants must provide evidence that any organisational commitment referenced in support of their application has been confirmed e.g. letters of support to show that a collaborator is available, or an exhibition opportunity confirmed.

7. Proposals must be realised in full within the timeframe specified in the application.. Wicklow County Council reserves the right to review the Creative Wicklow Grant Scheme 2026 at any time and, as a result, may make any changes necessary without prior notice and at Wicklow County Council’s discretion.

8. Applications will be assessed by the Wicklow County Council Culture and Creativity Team.

9. Applicants shall be notified as soon as is practicable, however it is anticipated that the overall process from the submission of applications to the notification of outcomes will take 6-8 weeks.

10. Shortlisting is likely to apply.

11. While we encourage the participation of returning applicants, please note that if you have previously received funding from this programme in past years, you must have submitted all required final project reports, budgets and invoices for those funds. Failure to comply with this requirement will render you ineligible for consideration in the current round.

12. An online acknowledgement will be sent to you to confirm receipt of your Application.

13. Please read the Wicklow County Council GDPR statement.

14. Projects must be completed and final report documentation submitted as directed by the 30th September 2026

DISCLAIMER – please read carefully

It is a condition of any application for funding under the terms and conditions of the Wicklow County Council – Creative Wicklow project that the applicant has read, understood and accepted the following terms and conditions:

1. Wicklow County Council shall not be liable to the applicant or any other party, in respect of any loss, damage or costs of any nature arising directly or indirectly from:

a. The application or the subject matter of the application.

b. The rejection for any reason of any application.

2. Wicklow County Council shall not be held responsible or liable, at any time in any circumstances, in relation to any matter whatsoever arising in connection with the administration of activities related to the project. In respect of funding provided by Wicklow

County Council, the Council does not undertake the role of ‘Client’ or ‘Employer’ as defined in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.

3. By submitting an application, applicants agree to the processing and disclosure of the applicant’s information by Wicklow County Council, and to other third parties if required, for Fund administration, reporting, evaluation and audit purposes; and successful applicant’s further consent to the disclosure of this information (e.g. name of successful applicant, amount of award, event details, etc.) by these parties in connection with the marketing or promotion of the Fund.  Personal data will be processed only in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Data Protection legislation.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 4pm Thursday 5th February 2026 

Application Support Service:

For questions or application support, contact: CreativeWicklow@wicklowcoco.ie

Make your subject line ‘Creative Wicklow Innovation Award 2026’. 

The support service is available up to 5pm Thursday, 29th January 2026