Grants of up to €5,000 available to Kilkenny’s small festivals: Minister Phelan

KILKENNY’S small festivals have been urged to apply for a new funding scheme that awards grants of between €1,000 and €5,000.

While the amounts are small, Minister and Kilkenny TD John Paul Phelan said the money can make “a huge difference” for volunteers running events throughout the city and county.

The funding, which is available through the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, is particularly aimed at small local festivals and summer schools, with a particular focus on arts, culture and film events.

Minister Phelan said: “It’s only relevant to small local events, as the total fund for the scheme is only €75,000 and individual grants are for only relatively small amounts between €1,000 and €5,000. Yet this can make a huge difference for volunteers running events.”

Minister Phelan said the scheme is not designed to fund equipment, musical instruments, plaques or statues, nor does it cater for sporting events, community and family fun days, food festivals, profit-making events or tidy town events.

It is also not open to events already in receipt of other Government monies or large scale event funding from bodies like Fáilte Ireland and the Arts Council.

The closing date for submissions is Friday, April 19.

For more information on the scheme, log on to https://www.chg.gov.ie/arts/culture/grants-and-funding/small-scale-local-festivals-summer-schools/