One of our main tasks in the Arts Council is to invest the essential infrastructure that is required to sustain and develop the arts in Ireland. We do this each year through Strategic Funding, with a focus on the delivery of excellent work or activities and services; more -- and more diverse – people enjoying high-quality arts experiences; first-rate professional development opportunities for artists and practitioners; and high standards in governance and management in the arts.

The application window for Strategic Funding opens on 9 July, and closes at 17:30 on 5 September. It is important to note that recipients of Strategic Funding are expected to play a key role in delivering on the policy priorities of Making Great Art Work, the Arts Council's ten-year strategy. In the weeks ahead, we will publish our three-year plan for the period 2020 to 2022, which will outline how we intend to implement the strategy over the period. The plan will be available from our website and through our social media, and I would encourage everyone connected to the arts sector, including of course those applying for Strategic Funding, to read it.

In recognition of the vital role arts centres play in ensuring that people are supported to create and engage with art throughout the country the County and City Management Association and the Arts Council commissioned a Venues Review which has now being published.  Informed by this research and by our individual and shared policy priorities we will continue to work with local authorities in our support of artists and arts centres. All of this work is supported by our partnership agreement, A Framework for Collaboration.

The Arts Council has also published an Arts Centre Policy and Strategy 2019 which will inform applications for funding in 2020, and there will be a series of information sessions around the country about this.

Best regards,

With best wishes,

Orlaith McBride
Director