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Tourism and culture

Culture funding

  • Cultural Multi-Annual Grants

    Applications for our Cultural Multi-Annual Grants scheme closed on Friday 6 October 2023.


    The scheme offers two funding strands. The funding is available for two or four years. Under this scheme, we offer two funding strands which are available for two or four years.

    This scheme includes:

    Arts and Heritage Grants

    For arts and heritage organisations with a year-round programme of activity:

    • two-year (2024-2026)
    • four-year (2024-2028)

    Festival and Events Grants

    For festivals and events:

    • two-year (2024-2026)
    • four-year (2024-2028)
  • Small grants

    Small grants are currently open for Community Festival Fund and Arts and Heritage. For more information go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/funding.

    Closing date is 12 January 2024 at 12 noon.

  • Belfast Music Heritage Programme - Belfast 2024 and Belfast City of Music

    Applications are invited for projects which explore contemporary expressions of traditional music with local musicians, groups and communities of all cultural backgrounds.

    Grants of up to £20,000 are available for projects taking place between February and September 2024.   

    Contact culture@belfastcity.gov.uk for an application form and a link to the information event which will take place on Thursday 9 November 12 noon - 12.30pm.  

    We are also available for advice sessions. 

    Applications must be received by Monday 11 December at 12 noon.

  • Creative Bursary Scheme 2023-2024

    The scheme is closed to applications.

  • Access and Inclusion Programme 2023-2024

    Applications closed on Friday 15 September 2023.

  • Activate and Enable grants awarded in 2022

    Activate festivals and events grants are for two years, 2022 to 2024. In April 2022 we awarded Activate grants to the 15 organisations in this table. Each link opens in a new window.

    Organisation Web
    Féile an Phobail Spring Fest Féile Belfast
    Belfast Photo Fest Belfast Photo Festival
    Belfast International Arts Festival Belfast International Arts Festival
    Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival CQAF
    Outburst Arts Festival Outburst Arts 
    Eastside Arts Festival Eastside Arts
    Festival of Fools Fools Festival
    Belfast Film Festival Belfast Film Festival
    Belfast City Marathon Belfast City Marathon
    Docs Ireland Docs Ireland
    CQAF Out To Lunch CQAF
    Belfast Summer School Trad Music Belfast Traditional Music
    CineMagic Cinemagic
    Imagine Belfast Imagine Belfast
    Odyssey Trust Friendship Four The Odyssey

    Enable grants are for two years (2022 to 2024). In April 2022 we awarded Enable grants to the 27 arts organisations in this table. Each link opens in a new window.

    Organisation Web
    Strand Arts Centre Strand Arts Centre
    Belfast Exposed Belfast Exposed
    Maiden Voyage Dance Maiden Voyage Dance
    Prime Cut Primecut Productions
    Golden Thread Gallery Golden Thread Gallery
    Moving on Music Moving on Music
    Kids in Control Kids in Control
    Nerve Centre Nerve Centre
    Dumbworld Dumbworld
    Replay Replay Theatre
    Kabosh Kabosh
    Community Arts Partnership CAP Arts Centre
    DU Dance DU DanceNI
    Bruiser Bruiser Theatre
    Open Arts Open Arts
    Terra Nova Terra Nova Productions
    Beat Beat carnival
    Photo Works North/Source Photoworks
    YouthAction Youth Action
    University of Atypical University of Atypical
    Streetwise Streetwise Community Circus
    Wheelworks Wheelworks Arts
    Cuman Culturtha Mhic Reachtain MhicReachtain
    QFT Queen's Film Theatre
    Fighting Words Fighting Words
    Belfast Library and Society for Promoting Knowledge (Linen Hall Library) Linenhall
    An Droichead An Droichead
  • Grants awarded to arts organisations in 2020

    Anchor grants are for four years (2020 to 2024). We awarded Anchor grants to the nine organisations in this table. Each link opens in a new window.

    Organisation Web
    Crescent Arts Centre Crescent Arts 
    Ulster Orchestra Society Ltd Ulster Orchestra 
    The MAC (Metropolitan Arts Centre) The Mac Live 
    Duncairn Arts Centre The Duncairn 
    Oh Yeah Music Centre Oh Yeah Belfast 
    Lyric Theatre (NI) Lyric Theatre 
    Belfast Community Circus School Ltd Circusful
    Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich Culturlann 
    The Black Box Trust Black Box Belfast 

    If you would like information on recent funding awards, case studies of recipients or our guide on cultural funding, contact us by email: culture@belfastcity.gov.uk

  • Imagine grants awarded in 2020

    Imagine festivals and events grants are for four years (2020 to 2024). We awarded Imagine grants to the four organisations in this table. Web links are given for events and festivals. Each link opens in a new window.

    Organisation Event or festival
    ArtsEkta Belfast Mela 
    Féile an Phobail  Féile an Phobail August Festival
    Young at Art  Belfast Children’s Festival
    NI Science Festival NI Science Festival 

Culture

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