Cork County Council Arts Grants: Record Applications as €225,350 Awarded to 145 Artists and Organisations

Cork County Council has announced funding of over €225,350 for 145 artists and arts organisations through its 2026 Arts Grants schemes, with a record 370 applications received, the largest number ever submitted to the scheme.

The grants support arts projects, activities and events taking place across Cork County in 2026. Applications were up 46% on 2025 figures, while the number of artists and organisations supported has increased by approximately 17% year on year.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Mary Linehan Foley said:

"Cork County Council is delighted to continue its support of the arts and culture in the county. Without arts and culture our lives and the places we live in would not be as vibrant or attractive as destinations. Arts organisations in the county have once again demonstrated their impact at a local level with a wide array of arts festivals, exhibitions, performances and so much more set to take place in 2026."

The council's Arts Grants support artists, arts organisations and community initiatives through eight distinct funding schemes. In 2026, the Arts Grant Scheme is enabling 90 applicants to deliver arts activity across the county, while eight projects are receiving support for development through the Irish language.

The Small Capital Investment Scheme will assist 17 organisations in upgrading equipment or improving facilities. Fourteen community arts projects will be supported through the Creative Communities Scheme, and the newly introduced Artist in the Community Scheme will enable five artists to collaborate directly with local communities.

Through the Creative Artist Bursary Scheme, the Tyrone Guthrie Centre Bursary, and the Ballinglen Arts Foundation Bursary, a total of 11 bursary and residency opportunities have been awarded to professional artists working across all disciplines.

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Moira Murrell added:

"Cork County Council places great value on the arts and each year we are delighted to see the impressive outcomes that the arts grant scheme supports. The funding announced today will have a considerable impact on not only the artists and organisations receiving support, but also on placemaking, tourism, community, and economic growth."

The scale of last year's outcomes underlines the value of the investment. In 2025, events supported through the Arts Grants Scheme created 1,544 artist work opportunities, while arts organisations spent €2.7 million on local goods and services. A total of 27,898 children and adults actively participated in a creative activity, a 46% increase on 2024, and 272,138 people attended an arts event or festival enabled through the scheme, up 52% on the previous year.