Arts Council of Ireland

The Arts Council of Ireland is the Irish government agency for developing the arts. They work in partnership with artists, arts organisations, public policy makers and others to build a central place for the arts in Irish life.

The Council recognises that the arts have a central and distinctive contribution to make to our evolving society. Established in 1951, to stimulate public interest in and promote the knowledge, appreciation and practice of the arts, the Council is an autonomous body, which is under the aegis of the Department of Arts, Heritage & Gaeltacht. 

The Arts Council carries out its role by:

• providing financial assistance, mainly, but not exclusively, to artists and arts organisations; it also supports others who develop and promote the arts;
• offering advice and information on the arts to Government and to others;
• publishing research and information as an advocate for the arts and artists;
• undertaking a range of projects to promote and develop the arts, often in partnership with others