The Festivals Scheme

The funding amount varies.

Foras na Gaeilge is providing funding to appropriate committees to give them an opportunity to develop arts festivals or elements of festivals being run and implemented through the medium of Irish or which the language-based arts are a central part of them. This scheme is aimed at festivals which aim to foster and promote through Irish or bilingually the Irish language, the language-based arts, the indigenous Irish-language arts and Irish language heritage, as an integral part of the festival, and to provide a stage for the Irish language community, to the wider community and to the arts sector. As well as that, the aim of the scheme is to develop and foster opportunities for use and networks through the medium of the arts.

To be eligible to apply for this scheme your organisation must be able to fulfil the following qualifying criteria:

• The applicant’s group must have a constitution

• The applicant must have Public liability insurance

• There must be a bank account in the name of the festival

• The applicant must have a valid ROS number (if appropriate)

• The applicant must have a tax clearance certificate (if appropriate)

• A statement showing a commitment to the Irish language must be made by the applicant

We will assess and score applications in accordance with these criteria.

1. (a) The festival material, number and appeal of the activities must be through the medium of Irish in accordance with the basic aim of the scheme.
   (b) The imagination the programme of those running the festival must be clear.
   (c) The number of participants must be measurable.
2. The festival will increase the use of Irish in the context of the promotion of the indigenous arts through recitation, singing, storytelling, reading stories, puppetry, drama, films, literature, fostering new artists, or any other arts sector which would attract Irish language attendees.
3. Irish will be central on the festival programme and on promotional material of the festival.
4. The applicant has a programme which sets out the festival’s aim, objective, strategy, audience and participation development plan, and marketing plan.
5. The group organising and administrating the festival has a managerial and administrative capacity, evidenced by the structure of the group and their range of expertise and specialties.
6. The applicant will give information on funding or support from other sources, i.e. sponsorship, use of venue, voluntary time, funding in kind, estimated income and value for money.

Further information on the scheme can be found on the Foras na Gaeilge website.

Email: eolas@forasnagaeilge.ie