Arts Council of Northern Ireland

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI), established in 1962, is the principal public funding body for the arts in Northern Ireland, distributing Department for Communities and National Lottery funds to champion artistic excellence, creativity, well-being, and prosperity. Guided by core values of expertise, inclusion, collaboration, and integrity, ACNI's 2024–2034 Strategic Plan emphasizes building a stable arts sector, enhancing societal engagement, supporting artists' sustainability, fostering diversity, boosting international profiles, and measuring impact through transparent, consultative processes that prioritize accessibility and social cohesion.

ACNI funds a broad spectrum of arts activities, including theatre, literature, visual arts, music, dance, festivals, community projects, digital innovation, skills development, and initiatives promoting health, cultural diversity, and community regeneration—benefiting organizations, individual artists, and groups like the Lyric Theatre, Ulster Orchestra, or grassroots ensembles such as WheelWorks Arts. It supports project-based work, core programming, capacity building, bursaries, and small capital grants, with emphasis on widening participation among underrepresented communities, though it excludes clinical art therapy.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities, community groups, or Northern Ireland-based individuals with legal constitutions, operating strictly within NI (rural/urban); annual/core funding requires prior ACNI awards of £10,001+ since April 2023 and officer consultation. Typical grants range £500–£15,000. Unsolicited applications go via online portal registration with full forms and documents; key deadlines include Rural Engagement (25 Sep 2025), Annual Funding (8 Dec 2025), and others in 2025, with decisions in 6–10 weeks. Distinctively, ACNI's statutory remit drives long-term advocacy for arts investment, blending local needs with global collaboration for equitable, evidence-based impact.