Deputy Michael Lowry invites local groups to apply for Annual Funding from the Arts Council of Ireland
Deputy Michael Lowry Invites Local Groups To Apply For Annual Arts Council Funding
Applications are now open for Annual Funding from the Arts Council of Ireland for 2016. Persons or local groups interested in applying should visit the Arts Council of Ireland website. Applications for funding for 2016 period will close at 17:30, on Thursday 08 October 2015. Applications must be submitted online where applicants may request a contribution towards both operating and artistic programming costs. Organisations applying for the first time are requested to first discuss their suitability for this funding programme with the relevant Head of Team at the Arts Council.
Making your application
Register with the Arts Council’s Online Services
All applications must be made through the Arts Council’s Online Services; applications made in any other way (by post, fax or email) will not be accepted.
You must have an Online Services account to make an application. If you do not already have an Online Services account, sign up by filling out the registration form : HERE
Within five working days you will be issued (via email) with a unique ARN (artist reference number) and password that you can use to sign in to Online Services.
Give yourself enough time to complete the application
You should become familiar with the Online Services website well in advance of the deadline and in advance of preparing an application. It is likely that there will be heavy traffic on the site on the final afternoon of the closing date. You should prepare and submit well in advance of the deadline.
Upload times can be much longer than download times. It may take you longer than you think to upload your supporting materials.
Making your application online
To make your application online, you go through five main stages. Click Save draft at the end of each stage. You can come back to your application and revise it at any time before you finally submit it.
Choose funding programme and download application form
To start a new application, click the Make an application button on your home page, and follow the prompts to choose the Annual Funding programme. Give your application a unique reference by which to identify it. At this stage you can also download the application form and the Financial Review Template.
More information is available from the Arts Council of Ireland Website
Michael Lowry Welcomes the New FEAD program 2014-2020 for the most deprived persons in Europe
FEAD program 2014-2020 for the most deprived persons in Europe
- More Information Available: EXPLANATORY GUIDE TO THE APPLICATION FORM
- Application Form Available: FEAD Partner Application Form
What is FEAD?
The Department of Social Protection is the designated managing authority for the Operational Programme (OP) for the Fund for the Economic Aid (FEAD) to the most deprived who will have responsibility for the implementation of the programme in Ireland.
Who will FEAD be targeted at?
FEAD support will help people take their first steps out of poverty and social exclusion. The FEAD will help the most deprived people by addressing one of their most basic needs i.e. food and non-food for personal use e.g. sleeping bags, shampoo and other items for personal use, which is a precondition for them to be able to get a job or follow a training course.
What resources are available?
FEAD Ireland will be funded by some €22m of European funding and €4m of Irish exchequer funding totaling some 26.7m for the period 2014-2020.
Sixty-five per cent (65%) of available resources will be applied to the provision of food and thirty five per cent (35%) to the provision of basic material assistance e.g. sleeping bags, personal need items such as shampoo, shower gel etc.
Accompanying measures funding will also be available to a maximum of 5% of the value of food or non-food items purchased.
How will FEAD work?
The Department will establish an open selection mechanism in a fair, transparent and equitable manner for the provision of funding from the OP to partner organisations to provide food and /or basic material assistance for homeless persons. This will allow the organisations to purchase food and basic material essential non-food items and will then organise the distribution of food/non-food directly to people or transfer the food/non-food products to other not-for-profit organisations working with the target groups.
The criteria will consist of the following elements:
- organisations status, governance structures and legal/recognisable form
- expertise in the provision of food and/or basic material assistance
- capacity to target, deliver services to and support persons who are most severely deprived
- track record in the provision of services to persons who are most deprived
- organisational policies in respect of equality, non-discrimination, care of vulnerable people, accessibility, and inclusion
- ability to record and provide necessary data for monitoring/evaluation
- administrative, operational and management capacity
- financial standing and ability to manage public funds
- integration with other publicly funded programmes (to avoid duplication of support from other publicly funded programmes)
- geographical coverage.
Focus of OP
The focus of the fund will be on those on the margins of society and in need of essential supports. Effectively, the OP will target
- homeless persons including long-term rough sleepers
- children in low income/work intensity households
- victims of domestic violence in refuges and shelters
- person suffering or recovering from addictions
- certain members of the Roma and Traveller communities
- vulnerable persons transitioning to independent living from emergency accommodation, institutionalized care settings or places of detention
- any person without income, accommodation or means not otherwise defined above.