!!!! The Arts Council: 2026 Funding Opportunities for Artists and Schools
The Arts Council 2026 Funding Opportunities Schedule Announced
Dates: various
The Arts Council are pleased to share a schedule of funding opportunities for 2026. Funding distributed through Arts Council’s schemes will enable artists to create, make and present their work, and ensure that people can access excellent arts experience across the country.
We have collated a list of funding opportunities including key dates that are relevant to artists with an arts and creativity in education practice and schools/education leaders.
Young Ensembles Scheme
The Young Ensembles Scheme supports groups of young people between the ages of ten and twenty-four.
Opens: Tuesday 27 January | Closes: Thursday 26 February
Creative Schools 2026
The Creative Schools initiative supports schools to put arts and creativity at the heart of children’s and young people’s lives, enhancing their learning experience.
Opens: Tuesday 24 February | Closes: Thursday 30 April
Children and Young People’s Arts Residency
Children and Young People’s Arts Residencies support artists or arts organisations to spend an academic year in residence in a higher education institution that provides qualifications in initial teacher education or early childhood education and care.
Opens: Tuesday 3 March | Closes: Thursday 2 April
Arts in Early Learning and Childcare Scheme
The Arts in Early Learning and Childcare Scheme supports individual artists and organisations to partner with eligible services to develop opportunities for babies and young children to explore and enjoy the arts.
Opens: Tuesday 3 March | Closes: Thursday 2 April
Online Information Clinic:
Join members of the Children and Young People’s Arts Team for a funding clinic offering practical tips and advice for prospective applicants.
The session will focus on the Young Ensembles Scheme, the Children and Young People’s Arts Residency, and the Arts in Early Learning and Childcare Scheme.
Date & Time: Friday 6 February, 12pm
Where: Online (zoom)
Register here
Find out more about the Arts Council’s 2026 funding opportunities here
!!!! Opportunity for Schools: Creative February
The Arts Council Creative Schools: Creative February
Dates: 1 – 28 February
The Arts Council invites schools to save the date for Creative February / Fuadar Feabhra, a national celebration of creativity, as part of Creative Schools, which returns in February 2026.
Creative February is open to every school and educational setting in the country. School communities are invited to make their mark and for every student to connect to their own creativity.
The theme of the upcoming celebration is Connect with Nature / Nasc le Nadúr.
You will find lots of resources and ideas on this page to help you to celebrate Creative February.
The Arts Council would love to hear how you celebrate Creative February! Share your activities, moments, and highlights with them by using #CreativeFebruary or email creativeschools@artscouncil.ie.
Online Workshops for Primary Schools
There is a full and varied programme of online webinars for classes running throughout the month.
Some highlights include:
- Rooted in Creativity: Drawing With Nature | Tuesday 3 February, 10 – 11am |1st class to 6th class
- Mandalas in Nature | Tuesday 10 February, 10 – 11am | all ages
- Drawing From Nature: Hedgerows and Habitat | Tuesday 24 February, 10 – 11am | 2nd class to 6th class
See full workshop programme and book your place here.
Download the Creative Arts Team (CAT) Guide and start planning your Creative February!
Artist Juliette Saumande has collaborated with students from Clogher Road Community College to create a brand-new guide designed especially for teachers and students who want to celebrate Creative February together. Download the CAT Guide here.
Students have helped trial and test a wide range of creative activities, resulting in a practical and inspiring collection of:
- Classroom-ready creative ideas
- Student-friendly templates
- Tips and tricks to spark imagination
Creative February Podcast
This Creative February, post-primary students are invited to create a 4–5 minute podcast exploring anything creative that inspires them — from art and music to storytelling, ideas, or creative life at school.
To support you, artist Helen Flanagan has created a step-by-step video and PDF guide that walks students and teachers through the podcast-making process, from planning ideas to recording and sharing. Find out more here
!!!! Arts Council Writer in Residence / Fellowship Scheme 2026
Arts Council Writer in Residence / Fellowship Scheme 2026
Closing date: 2 October 2025
The Arts Council Writer in Residence / Fellowship scheme is now open for applications. The scheme provides mid-career and established writers with residency opportunities at a number of partner Irish universities.
It focuses on providing a stimulating environment for the resident writer, and affording a degree of financial support to concentrate on their own practice. Additionally, the residency brings energy and dynamism to the university, and allows students and faculty to engage with a practicing writer for a concentrated period.
The scheme is available in the following universities:
- Arts Council Writer in Residence at Dublin City University
- Arts Council Irish Language Writer in Residence at Dublin City University
- Arts Council Writer in Residence at Maynooth University
- Arts Council Writer in Residence at University of Galway
- Arts Council Writer Fellow at Trinity College Dublin
- Arts Council Writer in Residence at University College Cork
- Arts Council Writer in Residence at University College Dublin
Read guidelines and information about Arts Council Writer in Residence / Fellowship Scheme 2026