Arts Grants

Laois County Council provide financial support to professional artists, arts groups, community and voluntary groups to support arts projects that promote public engagement with the arts.

  1. Arts Act Grant
  2. Artist in the Schools Scheme
  3. Tyrone Guthrie Centre Award
  4. Creative Ireland
  5. Further information

Laois County Council advertises a number of Arts Awards annually, open to professional artists, groups and organisations, in all art forms, who meet the artistic and financial criteria laid down by Laois County Council. Proposals are invited through an application form and a selection panel marks the applications according to the relevant criteria.  Awards include:

Arts Act Grant 

This is open to individual professional artists, groups and organisations to support the development and presentation of creative and artistic projects in the county in 2024. Awards are generally between €250 - €500 per applicant.

Artist in the Schools Scheme 

This is available for artists’ residencies in schools, to include all art forms. This scheme gives primary and post primary schools the opportunity to select and work with professional artists and explore new arts media. The grant has been increased to €2500 in 2024.

Tyrone Guthrie Centre Award

This is given to two Laois artists to spend one week working at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in County Monaghan. The bursary is open to artists in all fields and is selected based on previous achievements and projects in hand.

Creative Ireland Laois Film Bursary 

This funding of €10,000 is to fund the making of a short drama film or documentary. A prerequisite of this award is that it is produced and/or written by a Laois born filmmaker or Laois resident. The film must be filmed on location in Co. Laois and be completed by the year end. A public screening of the film can be arranged locally by the Arts Office in association with the Dunamaise Arts Centre.

Further information

For further information on award criteria please email arts@laoiscoco.ie or phone 057 866 4000