Culture funding

Bank of Ideas 2026

Bank of Ideas is a scheme where individuals and groups can submit their creative ideas for funding in their local area. To decide which projects are funded, the people of Belfast vote for their favourite projects.

Our Bank of Ideas Voting Day took place on Sunday 10 May in Belfast City Hall. 

For 2026, ideas should align with the Fleadh Cheoil theme of 'Celebrating Together'. Fleadh Cheoil is the world’s biggest celebration of Irish music and culture, which comes to Belfast from Sunday 2 August to Sunday 9 August 2026, and projects will have the opportunity to be part of the celebrations.

John Hewitt International Summer School bursaries

We are offering Belfast-based writers an opportunity to attend the John Hewitt International Summer School in 2026.

This is an annual festival of literature, arts and politics where acclaimed writers and academics facilitate creative writing workshops.  The summer school will take place from Monday 27 July to Saturday 1 August 2026 in Armagh.

To apply for a bursary, go to The John Hewitt Society (link opens in new window). Applications close on Friday 22 May 2026 at 5pm.

Teenage Kicks micro-grants

We have launched a micro-grant programme called Teenage Kicks.

This scheme provides small grants of £2,000 to venues, festivals, promoters and organisations to facilitate high-quality gigs and concerts for people aged 18 and below.  

These micro-grants are to support applicants put on concerts specifically:

• targeting young people, and
• providing safe, high-quality musical experiences in venues with no alcohol served at bars.

For information and details on how to apply, email [email protected] with ‘Teenage Kicks’ in the email subject line.

This grant closed on Sunday 1 March 2026 at 3pm.

Cultural Multi-Annual Grants

Our Cultural Multi-Annual Grants 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:

Festivals and events grants

For festivals and events:

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

Arts and heritage grants

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

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

Previous grants awarded

We keep a record of grants that we have awarded.