Open Call: Amateur and Voluntary Performing Arts Grants 2027 (Ireland)

The Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council (dlr) is inviting applications for the Amateur and Voluntary Performing Arts Grants 2027 to support medium to large amateur and voluntary performing arts groups in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. Funding covers activities taking place from January to December 2027. The application deadline is Friday, 23 October 2026 at 12:00 PM (time zone not specified in the source). Opportunity at a Glance

- Provider: Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council (dlr) (listed as “DLR COCO”)

- Opportunity name: Amateur and Voluntary Performing Arts Grants 2027

- Grant period covered by funding: January to December 2027

- Funding available per application: Maximum €6,000

- Eligible applicants (main criteria):

- Medium and large amateur and voluntary performing arts groups - Based in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown - At least 11 active members

- Application deadline: Friday, 23 October 2026 at 12:00 PM (time zone not specified in the source)

- Application portal: Submit.com (application page shown in the source)

- Contact: [contact details removed] | (01) 236 2759

- Briefing sessions:

- In-person: dlr LexIcon, Tuesday 6 October at 6pm (registration required)

- Online: Wednesday 7 October at 10:30am (registration required)

About the Opportunity

This grant supports the activity of medium to large amateur and voluntary performing arts groups in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. The intention is to fund ongoing delivery and related costs for groups that carry out amateur/community arts work, including performances and regular rehearsals. The council notes that it surveyed the needs of amateur and voluntary performing arts groups in the county and made small changes to existing funding for 2026; the grant continues in 2027 under the Council’s Universal Grants Scheme. Funding and Benefits Applicants may apply for a maximum of €6,000 for activities taking place in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown during January to December 2027. The source lists examples of what funding can support: - Support for Performances taking place in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown - Regular Activity (ongoing delivery of core activities), including weekly rehearsals - Training costs to support artistic or technical capacity (e.g., workshops led by professional directors, conductors, or choreographers; examples include vocal coaching and script development) - Marketing and PR, including support for a new website to promote local productions and events - Capital purchases directly related to delivering the group’s work (examples include technical/production equipment like lights or sound; musical instruments or sound systems; reusable sets/props; accessible equipment such as hearing loops). Capital items must be movable and used to support the group’s artistic programme. - Development funding to improve governance and planning, succession planning, and new members recruitment drives - The council encourages applications demonstrating sustainable practices and the circular economy, including reuse of materials/equipment and encouraging collaboration or sharing of equipment/props/sets with other amateur groups.

Restrictions stated in the source:

- Grants are only for running costs and activities taking place in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County.

- The council will not fund:

- building programmes - third-party grants - loans - charity fundraising events - hire of Council premises - international travel - third level education Who Is Eligible? This grant is open to medium and large amateur and voluntary performing arts groups that meet all listed criteria. Eligible applicant requirements

Applicants must:

- Be a medium and large amateur/voluntary performing arts group - Be based in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown - Have at least 11 active members - Be community/volunteer led and not for profit - Have an annual turnover of €6,000 or more - Be open to, and encourage, new membership - Have members aged 18 years or over (this strand is not for groups working with children and young people) - Have a board or committee - Have a bank account in its name Eligible artforms

The grant is open to:

- musical theatre - theatre - dance - choirs - circus - spectacle - opera - music and vocal ensembles Application limit / grant interaction - For 2027, applicants may only apply for one Arts Grant (for example, not both this grant and the council’s Activities, Projects, Events and Collaborations arts grant). - If applying for other council grants, applicants must state this in the application. - The source states applicants would be unlikely to receive more than one council grant unless they are for completely different activities. Who cannot apply - Semi-professional or professional groups/organisations - Individual artists/performers - Groups with fewer than 11 active members and/or annual turnover under €6,000 (the source directs these groups to apply for a different grant, e.g., the Community Arts Grant) Eligible Activities or Priority Areas Based on the source, funding may be requested for: - performances in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown - regular ongoing activity (including weekly rehearsals) - training/workshops that develop artistic or technical skills - marketing and PR (including support for a new website) - capital purchases directly linked to delivering the group’s programme (movable and used for the artistic programme) - development for governance, succession planning, and recruiting new members - sustainability-related approaches (reuse, circular economy, sharing/collaboration of equipment/props/sets) The grant is explicitly restricted to activities and running costs taking place in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County between January and December 2027. Why This Opportunity Matters This grant is designed for amateur and voluntary performing arts groups that are already active and have the capacity (minimum 11 active members, €6,000+ annual turnover, and governance via a board/committee and bank account). By covering running costs, training, marketing, and certain movable capital purchases, the pr