Communities Minister has launched a £750,000
programme which will offer financial support to arts
organisations.
The Small Capital Grants Programme will enable organisations to
purchase equipment and carry out necessary works on facilities.
The programme will also allow organisations to become more
accessible, including by enhancing children and young persons'
experiences of the arts, contributing to their wellbeing and
widening their cultural experiences.
Minister Lyons said: I am delighted to announce
this £750,000 Small Capital Grants Programme which will
offer arts organisations the opportunity to buy equipment and
carry out minor works.
This programme is a further investment that will support
organisations working across the arts in creating new output and
help protect and enhance facilities and venues. The arts
play a vital role in Northern Ireland's social and economic life
this funding will help sustain that.
The programme aims to provide grants which will help:
- Support arts organisations by providing grant awards for
small capital works and equipment
- Promote arts organisations' digital needs by providing up to
date technology
- Allow arts organisations to maintain the quality of the
artistic activities
- Aid the sustainability of arts organisations
- Enhance audience and participants' arts experiences
Gilly Campbell, Director of Arts Development at the Arts Council
of Northern Ireland, said: The Arts Council of Northern Ireland
is pleased to reopen the Small Capital Grants Programme, and we
thank Minister Lyons for making this vital funding
available. This programme supports arts organisations by
giving them the opportunity to access much-needed funding for new
equipment or to carry out essential works, so that they can
continue to bring arts, culture and creativity to all.
Jim Webster of Streetwise Community Circus, which received
£25,000 from the programme last year to purchase a branded van,
said: The ability to apply to this programme was a great boost
for Streetwise. Our branded van helps promote our community
circus while also being hugely useful in moving our equipment.
Applications to the Small Capital Grants Programme close on 16
November. For more information, visit https://artscouncil-ni.org/funding-for-organisations/small-capital-grants-programme
