Request for Applications: Festival Support Grant Program 2027 (Ireland)

Deadline: 13-Oct-2026

The Festival Support Grant Waterford provides funding to community and voluntary groups to support the delivery of festivals that contribute to a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable Waterford. The initiative is provided by Waterford City & County Council to assist groups organising festivals that strengthen the cultural and social life of the region. The programme supports festivals that are well-governed, environmentally responsible, inclusive, and contribute to Waterford’s role as the capital of the South East.

About the Festival Support Grant

The Festival Support Grant is designed to help community and voluntary groups organise and deliver festivals that benefit communities across Waterford. The programme aims to encourage festivals that: - Contribute to a vibrant Waterford. - Support the cultural and social life of the region. - Promote inclusion. - Demonstrate good governance. - Follow environmentally responsible practices. - Contribute to a sustainable Waterford. Who Can Apply? The grant is intended for community and voluntary groups organising festivals in Waterford.

Applicants must:

- Be registered with the Public Participation Network (PPN). - Have a properly constituted committee. - Have a clear festival promotion plan. - Demonstrate inclusive practices. Applicants must also comply with the policies and requirements attached to funded events. Festival Programme and Promotion Applications are assessed on the quality and planning of the proposed festival.

Applicants should demonstrate:

- A clear festival programme. - A well-developed promotion plan. - Potential for festival growth. - Commitment to sustainability. - Sound financial planning. These areas form part of the assessment process, with specific criteria and weightings applied to applications. Environmental and Artist Payment Requirements Funded festivals must comply with Waterford City & County Council’s Single Use Plastics Policy. Applicants must also comply with the Arts Council’s ‘Paying the Artist‘ policy. Compliance with both policies is mandatory for all events receiving support through the grant. Application Assessment Applications are evaluated against specific criteria and weightings.

The assessment considers areas including:

- Festival programme. - Festival promotion plan. - Growth. - Sustainability. - Financial planning. Applicants should provide clear information demonstrating how their proposed festival meets these criteria. Grant Letter of Offer Successful applicants will receive a Grant Letter of Offer. The letter will set out the conditions and requirements attached to the grant. Successful groups will need to meet requirements relating to festival management, safeguarding, insurance, reporting, and financial documentation. Event Management and Safeguarding Requirements Funded festivals must have the required documentation and arrangements in place.

This includes:

- An Event Management Plan. - A Child Safeguarding Statement. - Appropriate insurance cover for festival activities. These requirements form part of the conditions associated with receiving the grant. How Grant Payments Are Made Grant payments may be provided in part upfront. The remaining balance may be paid following the satisfactory completion of the festival and submission of the required documentation. Applicants should therefore retain appropriate records and evidence relating to festival expenditure and delivery. Post-Event Reporting Requirements Following the festival, successful applicants must provide the required documentation to support their final claim.

This may include:

- A post-event report. - An income and expenditure statement. - Evidence of expenditure. The documentation must demonstrate that the supported festival was delivered satisfactorily and that grant funds were used appropriately. Deadline for Grant Claims All claims must be submitted within 30 days of the festival. In addition, all claims must be submitted no later than December 12, 2027. Applicants should therefore ensure that their post-event reporting and financial documentation are prepared promptly after the festival. Key Facts About the Festival Support Grant Waterford

- Programme: Festival Support Grant Waterford

- Funder: Waterford City & County Council

- Target applicants: Community and voluntary groups

- Location: Waterford

- Applicant registration: Public Participation Network (PPN) registration required

- Committee: Properly constituted committee required

- Promotion: Clear festival promotion plan required

- Inclusion: Applicants must demonstrate inclusive practices

- Environmental requirement: Compliance with the Council’s Single Use Plastics Policy

- Artist payment requirement: Compliance with the Arts Council’s ‘Paying the Artist’ policy

- Assessment areas: Festival programme, promotion plan, growth, sustainability, and financial planning

- Successful applicants: Receive a Grant Letter of Offer

- Required documents: Event Management Plan, Child Safeguarding Statement, and insurance cover

- Payment: May be partly provided upfront, with the balance subject to satisfactory completion and documentation

- Post-event documents: Post-event report, income and expenditure statement, and evidence of expenditure

- Claim deadline: Within 30 days of the festival and no later than December 12, 2027

Frequently Asked Questions About the Festival Support Grant Waterford What is the Festival Support Grant Waterford? The Festival Support Grant Waterford provides funding to community and voluntary groups to support festivals that contribute to a vibrant and sustainable Waterford. Who provides the Festival Support Grant? The programme is an initiative of Waterford City & County Council. Who can apply for the grant? Community and voluntary groups organising festivals in Waterford can apply, subject to the programme’s eligibility and application requirements. Do applicants need to be registered with the PPN? Yes. Applicants are required to be registered w