The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon
Co-Funding Award
The Co-Funding Award supports Irish arts organisations that have already secured funding under the European Cooperation Projects or European Platforms strands of the EU's Creative Europe Programme 2021-27, helping fund the Irish arts elements of their project (as lead coordinator or partner). There is no maximum award stated, but the Arts Council expects to see a mixed funding model, meaning its contribution should not be the sole source of additional project income.
- Grant range
- No maximum grant. Mixed funding model is required.
- Funding level
- Rate varies
- Support type
- Grant
- Last checked
- 4 Sept 2026
About this scheme
The Co-Funding Award is designed to support Irish arts organisations towards their artistic activities under the European Cooperation Projects and European Platforms strands of the Creative Europe Programme 2021-27, administered via the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). The award enables Irish organisations that have already secured Creative Europe funding, either as Lead Coordinator or Partner, to apply for additional co-funding toward the Irish elements of their project. Applications must be made in the same calendar year that the Creative Europe funding offer was received, and only one Co-Funding Award application can be made per Creative Europe project. There is no stated maximum award amount, but the Arts Council expects a mixed funding model: its contribution should not be the sole source of additional project income. Non-arts organisations can only apply where an Irish arts organisation is an identified project partner and the funding will benefit that organisation's Irish arts activities. Applications are made through the Arts Council's Online Services.
Who can apply
- Applicant must be an Ireland-based arts organisation (non-arts organisations are only eligible where an Irish arts organisation is an active project partner and the funding benefits that arts organisation's Irish activities)
- Organisation must have already received an offer of funding, as lead coordinator or partner, under the Creative Europe Programme's European Cooperation Projects or European Platforms strand for the relevant year
- Application must be made in the same calendar year that the offer of funding was received from the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)
- Only one Co-Funding Award application can be made per Creative Europe Cooperation Project
- Applicant is expected to present a mixed funding model; the Arts Council contribution should not be the sole source of additional income for the project
- Excluded: organisations not based in the Republic of Ireland; activities that do not fit the priorities of this award; activities better suited to another government/public agency (e.g. Culture Ireland, Screen Ireland, third-level institutions); non-artistic activities such as heritage costs or academic activities; activities better suited to another Arts Council award; fundraising activities by registered charities for other purposes
How to apply
- Attend the Arts Council's online Funding Information Clinic (where offered) for an overview of the award's aims, criteria, and decision process
- Download and read the current year's Co-Funding Award guidelines in full (typically published around two weeks before the round opens)
- Register for or log in to an Arts Council Online Services (OLS) account
- Complete the application form, evidencing your Creative Europe offer of funding (as lead coordinator or partner) and detailing how Arts Council funding will support the Irish arts elements of the project as part of a mixed funding model
- Gather and prepare required supporting material
- Submit the completed application through Online Services before the published deadline
- The Arts Council assesses eligible applications competitively and communicates its decision by email