The Arts Council has announced that it will invest €1 million in major, once-off commissions for the 1916 centenary commemorations, and has issued an ‘open call’ to artists and arts organisations across Ireland to seize the opportunity.

The Council said it would back ambitious projects up to €500,000, in one or a combination of art forms. The work will be presented to the public in 2016 and represent a key response by contemporary artists to the centenary of the Easter Rising.

The Arts Council’s programme, which forms part of the Government’s Ireland 2016 Programme, will also include a number of special bursaries for a new generation of emerging artists, additional touring support in 2016 as well as a large scale national event to be announced later.

‘This is a very exciting moment for us. We are hoping for work so innovative and special, that it will inspire the people of Ireland for the next hundred years,’ said Arts Council Director Orlaith McBride. ‘We call artists to share their ambition and vision with us, to allow others see as they do, that things can be different. This is an open call to the Irish imagination. Its response will be shared with the world.’

The award is open to artists and organisations who are resident in the state, although the Arts Council may accept an application from outside the state in exceptional circumstances and where the final outcome will benefit the arts in the state.

Starting from 6 March, there will be a six-week ‘open call’ for applications, followed by a two-stage assessment process: shortlisting by an International Jury, with shortlisted applications providing fully developed artistic proposals, project plans, and budgets before final decision in July 2015.

The International Jury will be made up of two international experts, a national expert and two members of the Arts Council. It will be chaired by the Chair of the Arts Council, Sheila Pratschke.

Proposals from organisations already funded by the Arts Council under its three main grants programmes will have to show that the project is exceptional and outside the scope of its normally-funded work.

Full details for those considering applying are available on the Arts Council website: www.artscouncil.ie/Ireland2016