The third round of the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund, in partnership with Business to Arts was launched recently. The all-island Begin Together Arts Fund will make a total of €1 million in arts funding available over three years, with the third round being awarded to projects taking place between October 2022 and December 2023. A total of €300,000 will be awarded during this period.
The criteria for this round of the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund has been updated to focus on projects that enhance the wellbeing of their communities. The total amount of funding available per project has also been raised to €15,000.
The Fund supports or commissions artists and arts organisations to develop arts projects that engage the individuals, audiences and communities involved. All art forms are eligible to apply to the fund.
During the second round of the Arts Fund over €300,000 was distributed to 39 projects across the island of Ireland. Projects such as ‘Takeaway Theatre’, an interactive performance at home for people with disabilities and their families in Co. Down; The Little Museum of Dublin’s ‘My Name is Eileen’ exhibition which tells the story of Senator Eileen Flynn, the first Traveller to become a member of the Oireachtas; and ‘Sensory SongTales’ by Baboró, a unique and innovative multisensory arts experience designed for young children with additional needs.
Catherine Martin, TD, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media said,
“As arts and culture continue to reopen to in-person audiences and visitors, I welcome the third round of the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund launched today, supported by my Department, in partnership with Business to Arts. This third round will help artists and arts organisations to reconnect with their communities and contribute to their wellbeing now and into the future.”
Oliver Wall, Chief of Staff and Head of Group Corporate Affairs, Bank of Ireland said,
“The role of artists and arts organisations in connecting communities through you the pandemic has been critical. I’m delighted that the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund, in partnership with Business to Arts, continues to support new work and artistic practice. I’m particularly happy that more audiences will now get to enjoy these works in person.
The focus this year on projects that enhance the wellbeing of their communities represents an important part of our wider support for communities across the island of Ireland”.
Louise O’Reilly, CEO, Business to Arts said,
“The arts provided the greatest solace to us all during the pandemic, so we are grateful to Bank of Ireland with recognising the central role of the arts in enhancing the wellbeing of our communities through this Fund, and with continuing to support the arts sector whose own resilience has been sorely tested over the past two years.”
About the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund:
This Fund provides fees to artists or groups of artists to create new work and help maximise the budgets of partner organisations (e.g. arts organisations, community/voluntary organisations, etc.) for their programme of activity.
Artists or groups of artists applying must work with a partner organisation (e.g. a venue or event, arts organisation, community/voluntary organisation or another funding agency/organisation). Applicants can request funds between €5,000 – €15,000 / (STG equivalent), and average grants will be €10,000 / (STG equivalent), with maximum grants of €15,000 / (STG equivalent). Arts projects with larger budgets that have secured funds elsewhere are encouraged to apply.
Closing date for the third round of applications is Thursday, 23 June 2022 at 5pm. Go to www.businesstoarts.ie/artsfund/bank-of-ireland for information on the application process and to complete the online application form.
