Funding for Arts, Culture & Tourism Related Festivals & Events
Sligo County Council is committed to supporting the development of the arts, culture, and heritage sectors across the county. The Council recognises the vital contribution of voluntary committees, community groups, and professional organisations in sustaining Sligo’s diverse cultural landscape.
Through a range of annual funding schemes, the Council assists voluntary, community, and professional bodies, as well as festival and event organisers, in fostering a vibrant and sustainable cultural environment.
Each scheme has its own eligibility criteria & this page is to encourage applicants to look at the different priorities, requirements and assessment criteria for each scheme or fund before choosing which is the most appropriate one for them to pursue.
An inter-departmental approach to funding is being piloted by Sligo County Council in 2026 to seek to minimise duplication of funding in the future from Sligo County Council. As part of this, for example, organisations, festival & event organisers who are awarded arts grant funding may no longer be deemed eligible under the various Tourism & Commercial Events Fund* & vice versa.
Duplicate Funding: Please ensure that there is no duplication of funding from Sligo County Council, Local Community and Development Committee and LEADER funded projects. Please state all agencies that you have applied to for funding.
A Note on Festivals and Events:
Festivals have a wide range of origins and purposes. These may include specialist festivals such as those dedicated to theatre, music, food, or comedy, where the presentation of specific artforms or themes is the principal focus. In contrast, community festivals are primarily designed to bring people together and celebrate within their own community
Tourism and commercial festivals serve a different role — they are events (often larger scale) that stimulate local economic activity, animate public spaces, enhance the visitor experience, and promote Sligo as a destination. *
Arts festivals on the other hand have a strong artistic vision, focusing on providing audiences with access to innovative and high-quality arts programming in a range of settings. They place artform development and platforms for artists to present their work to the public at the core of their work. Arts festivals may be single-disciplinary or multi-disciplinary in nature, encompassing a diverse range of creative practices & opportunities.
*Note: Category 1 Festivals supported through the recommendations of the County Sligo Festivals & Events Strategy 2025-29 will continue to be funded at this level for the duration of the Strategy
Applying For Arts, Culture & Tourism Funding Schemes:
From 2026 as part of Sligo County Council’s Digital Transformation Programme, most grant applications will now move online to Sligo County Council’s Grant Portal.
Grants Portal: https://sligo-self.achieveservice.com/en/
Applicants must first register via the Portal before being able to log in.
Advertisement of Funding Schemes:
Funding Schemes are advertised on the Grants Section of Sligo County Council’s website: https://www.sligococo.ie/grants/
Each department also advertises and promotes their individual schemes via a range of online platforms, print and broadcast media, websites, Sligo PPN and other appropriate channels.
Below is a list of annual schemes currently operated by Sligo County Council, additional schemes may be announced during any year and will be advertised accordingly.
Current Funding Schemes:
| Application Window | Funding Stream |
|---|---|
| January | Commercial, Tourism & Regional Festivals & Events Open Call |
| May/June | Culture Night Fund |
| November/December | Arts Grant Fund Strands 1 & 2 |
| November/December | Creative Ireland Open Call |
| November/December | Commercial & Tourism Festivals & Events Category 2: Festival Development Fund 2026 |
Other Funding Information Platforms
There are a number of additional/other funding streams which your organisation may qualify for within Sligo County Council and through other agencies. Some that may be of relevance are listed below:
Community & Voluntary Grant Scheme
The purpose of this scheme is to support Community and Voluntary Groups throughout the County who wish to undertake local small-scale Projects/Events in their area, in accordance with the categories below, subject to the relevant Grant Criteria/Guidelines. Grants funded under this scheme are 100% funded by Sligo County Council. The categories are as follows:-
- Estates & Area Up Keep
- Small Scale Community Events
- Small Heritage Projects & Events.
The scheme will open in the week commencing 12th January 2026 and will close on Wednesday 28th January 2026.
Total Budget available in respect of the above is €60,000 to be allocated as follows.
- Estates & Area Up Keep €32,500
- Small Scale Community Events €12,500*
- Small Heritage Projects & Events. €15,000*
*The numbers and scope of applications to both the Small Heritage & Events Projects & Small-Scale Community Events Categories varies significantly year on year. Prospective applicants to these 2 categories in 2026 should note that the average grant sum awarded in 2025 was less than €1,000. Therefore, prospective applicants should take this into account when preparing their application.
Eligibility Criteria & Specific Guidelines
Estates/Area Upkeep Category
The aim of the Estates / Area Upkeep Category is to provide financial assistance to Residents Associations and Community Groups who work voluntarily to maintain and enhance their Estate & Local Area. Only annual recurring routine maintenance works will be considered for funding. New enhancement/ Development Projects are considered ‘capital’ works and are not considered eligible in this scheme. Equipment Purchases are not eligible under this scheme.
Community Events Category
The aim of the Scheme is to support and encourage small scale local events and activities which are undertaken by community and voluntary groups. Proposed events/activities must relate to an identified need and bring direct benefit to priority areas/groups. Group/Committee must demonstrate how they foster civic pride/promote health and wellbeing and/or are sustainable. Projects must outline in their application specific outcomes and methods of measurement of outcomes. Event or Activity must have taken place by 31st October 2026.
Heritage Projects and Events Category
The aim of the Scheme is to support and encourage events and activities which are undertaken by community and voluntary groups. In order to be of benefit to the wider community, any project offered funding by Sligo County Council under the C&V 2026 - Heritage Project and Events category must register an event during Heritage Week. Details can be obtained from www.heritageweek.ie. Event or Activity must have taken place by 31st October 2026.
All Applicants are to note: Costs incurred prior to application or, alcohol or “wages” related costs are not eligible expenditure
The Applicant Group/Committee must be registered with Sligo PPN (Public Participation Network). For details of the PPN please go to: www.sligoppn.com. To find your group’s PPN number go to: https://www.sligoppn.com/members-directory/ and type the name of your group into the search box or Tel: 071 - 9111352 for any queries in relation to PPN registration.
General Enquiries should be directed to Nola Gibbons at candvgrants@sligococo.ie or by phone at 071-9111340.
Night Time Economy Funding
Sligo Town is one of nine pilot towns and cities that has prepared an action plan setting out a range of actions to support the development of the night time economy. The initiative is funded by Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and delivered in by Sligo BID in partnership with Sligo County Council: https://www.sligococo.ie/News/NightTimeEconomyGrants/
Sligo Arts Service:
Sligo Arts Service provides a range of supports for independent artists throughout the year. Their website also provide links to other agencies who support artists & arts activity: http://www.sligoarts.ie/
The Arts Council:
The Arts Council is the national government agency for funding, developing and promoting the arts in Ireland: https://artscouncil.ie/
Sligo PPN:
(Public Participation Network) is an excellent local resource for organisations. Their website also provides a comprehensive list of various funding programmes that are available both locally and nationally: https://www.sligoppn.com/updates/
