Last chance to apply for Leitrim Creative Communities funding

Leitrim County Council has announced a new Creative Communities Open Call for Applications under its Creative Ireland Programme, inviting community groups and professional artists to collaborate on creative projects across the county.

The initiative is designed to support meaningful partnerships between communities and creative practitioners, encouraging people to explore new forms of expression while strengthening their connection to arts, culture, and creativity. Community groups are being encouraged to apply to work with a professional artist or creative practitioner on a shared project shaped by the voices and experiences of all involved. Artists are likewise invited to engage closely with communities, sharing skills and expertise while supporting a collective creative process.

Collaboration is central to the Creative Communities programme, which aims to foster an active ecosystem of creativity and imagination. Creative Ireland defines creativity as the ability to move beyond accepted ideas and norms, using imagination to generate new concepts that add value to human activity.

Any community group, venue, or organisation working with a group may apply. Projects must be led or facilitated by professional practitioners working in any creative or cultural field, including visual and performing arts, literature, cultural heritage, or other creative practices. A group may approach an artist with an idea, or an artist may approach a group, but applications must clearly demonstrate genuine collaboration, with both the community’s voice and the practitioner’s voice evident in the proposal. In some cases, an arts organisation or agency may submit an application where appropriate.

Applications are particularly welcomed from groups that have had limited or no previous engagement in creative projects. Where possible, guidance and support will be offered to help ensure collaborations are inclusive, positive, and rewarding. Projects may grow from any shared interest, including identity, place, environment, technology, heritage, the past or the future, or how people connect and express themselves.

While creative practitioners may be based anywhere in Ireland, the community group benefiting from the project must be located within County Leitrim.

Funding awards will typically range from €500 to €5,000. While there is no fixed number of grants, funding usually includes a larger number of smaller awards and a smaller number of higher-value grants, depending on available resources, the volume of applications, and the overall quality of proposals.

Anyone considering an application or seeking advice is encouraged to make contact with Alice Dixon, Creative Communities Engagement Officer, by email at alice.dixon@leitrimcoco.ie
or by phone on 071 96 20005 (ext. 419). The closing date for applications is Sunday, March 29, 2026. Full details and application guidelines are available at www.leitrimarts.ie

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