Minister Dillon welcomes new cultural grant schemes

Minister of State Alan Dillon TD has welcomed the opening of a series of grant schemes that will bring significant benefits to Mayo’s festivals, museums and community groups.

Announced by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, the schemes, covering local festivals, summer schools, museum exhibitions, mobility of national collections, and North–South cultural cooperation, form part of the Department’s strategic objective to expand access to the arts and Ireland’s National Collections.

Minister Dillon said the launch of these schemes represents “a major opportunity for Mayo’s vibrant cultural sector,” noting that the county’s festivals, heritage groups, museums, and community organisations are ideally placed to benefit.

“Mayo has one of the strongest cultural identities in the country, with festivals, arts organisations, museums and community groups that contribute enormously to local life and tourism. These schemes open the door for more funding, more events, and more opportunities to showcase Mayo’s creativity and heritage.”

The Small-Scale Local Festivals and Summer Schools Scheme is designed to assist local cultural events which may not be eligible under funding criteria for larger scale events such as those supported by Fáilte Ireland, the Arts Council and similar bodies. Closing date for applications is April 2, 2026. Funding is allocated following a competitive application process, with a maximum grant of €5,000 available.

The Co-operation with Northern Ireland Scheme is designed to support cultural projects with significant cross-border elements. Small self-contained projects funded under the scheme seek to enhance, celebrate or commemorate the artistic, cultural, musical, film or heritage of the Island of Ireland on a North/South basis, with a maximum grant of €15,000 available.

The Mobility of Collections Scheme is to support greater regional and local access to material held in the National Collections. The scheme is designed to fund the transport, cost of insurance, and exhibiting costs for pieces from the National Collections to appropriate institutions around the country.

Projects funded under the Regional Museum Exhibitions Scheme seek capital funds to enhance the cultural offering of museums, to encourage greater access to museums, and to promote the use of museums as tourism resources in their locality or region.

Minister Dillon said the schemes will play an important role in supporting Mayo’s cultural tourism strategy: “These initiatives will help bring more visitors into our towns and villages, support local artists and cultural workers, and ensure that Mayo continues to be recognised as a county of rich heritage, creativity and community spirit.”

He encouraged Mayo organisations to apply early and make full use of the supports available. “I strongly encourage Mayo’s festivals, museums, arts groups and community organisations to explore these schemes and submit applications. They are designed to be accessible, practical and impactful, exactly the kind of support that can elevate local events and strengthen cultural life across the county.”