Funding available for festivals and events being staged in Carlow this year

Funding is available for those staging festivals and events in Carlow, it has been announced. 

Carlow County Council’s Festival & Event Fund aims to assist with the creation of community-based tourism events for County Carlow. The Fund is a combination of Carlow County Councils own events, events in partnership with other bodies that have similar objectives, and events run by external organisers who receive direct funding contributions from Carlow County Council via an application process for the Festival & Events Fund.

The call for applications is for Festivals & Events which occur during the period May 2023 to October 2023.

Who is eligible to apply?

The scheme is open to groups or organisations that are organising Events and Festivals during the period 1st May 2023 to 31st October 2023. Applications are accepted online only on https://leocarlow.submit.com./ (Make sure to scroll down to Festival & Events 2023). CLOSING DATE 17th February 2023 @ 5.00pm.

To be eligible for funding the event must:

Be located in County Carlow
Take place between 1st May 2023 and 31st October 2023
Be willing to acknowledge funding as per the guidelines with Carlow County Council/Failte Ireland logos on all PR/marketing material
For free events all expenditure is eligible except for certain ineligible expenditure which is noted below
For paid ticketed events (including pay at entrance events), only pre-development costs are eligible, such as marketing and promotion of the event
Have a general audience appeal and be socially inclusive
Clearly demonstrate potential to generate economic, social and/or cultural benefits
be focused on developing demonstrable, measurable tourism impacts in the County
Complement the County’s calendar of events in relation to attracting overseas’ visitors
Animate public spaces in creative and innovative ways within the County
Demonstrate financial sustainability and the capacity to further develop the event
Have a clear PR and marketing plan including a social media strategy to actively promote the event.
 

To be eligible for funding the event must not:

be from commercial organisations that share out profits to members
be for activities that have been or are being grant-aided by other sources of funding
be Charity fundraisers
be Festivals/Events with the sole purpose of celebrating a religious or political event/commemoration
be sporting events, which cannot be classified under cultural heritage
be proposals in which programmes are primarily focused on the delivery of a competitive process, workshop series, summer schools, or on-going classes
be activities that duplicate what Carlow County Council is currently delivering in the culture, arts, and heritage field
 

Applicants must also be able to confirm the following where applicable:

A bank account in its own name and can supply evidence of adequate insurance cover for all aspects of their activities
Be fully compliant with financial regulations including an up-to-date Tax Clearance Certificate
Be fully aware of event management requirements and all relevant legislation
Be able to provide a Child Safeguarding Statement in line with the Children First Act 2015
Be fully compliant with GDPR and its requirements
Submit details of any applications made, intend to be made or awards of funding given by other departments within the Council or any other body for the same festival
Supply a projected estimated budget sheet
Provide post event income and expenditure accounts for the festival
Only one application per event will be considered

Statutory agencies are NOT eligible to apply.

Speaking about the Festival & Event Scheme 2023, Economic Development Officer with the Local Enterprise Office, Pierce Kavanagh, said, “this call is designed with festivals for the Summer and Autumn seasons in mind, to assist festivals and events for the period May to Oct 2023.” Pierce continued to say, “like last year all applications must be submitted via https://leocarlow.submit.com./   with a simplified application process to make it easier for organisations to apply and drawdown the funds after their event.”

Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council, Cllr. Brian O’Donoghue, said: “I’m delighted to support this new funding call from Carlow County Council’s Local Enterprise Office, which will support festivals and events for 2023.” The Cathaoirleach continued to say, “I know these have been difficult times for all and we in Carlow County Council are keen to play our part in supporting festivals and events which are an important part of our culture and create economic activity in our County.” Concluding, the Cathaoirleach said, “We hope that people will engage with this scheme and further information is available on the Local Enterprise Office website at www.localenterprise.ie/carlow or by calling the office on 059 9129 783.”