The deadline for the Arts Council of Ireland’s re-introduced Traditional Arts Project Award is on 31 March 2011. It is a relatively ambitious award, with a maximum of €90,000 awarded per successful application. We asked Paul Flynn, Head of Traditional Arts at the Arts Council, to elaborate on why this award was being reinstated, and what he hoped it would achieve:

The reason that the projects award is being reintroduced after two years and at a significantly higher level, is to encourage ambitious large scale thinking amongst the traditional arts community. The traditional arts team has been consulting with the sector over the last year and while we have seen the great work being done in traditional arts through support from the Deis scheme, we are aware that the level of funding offered may lead to more ambitious projects not being submitted. The projects award is an attempt to address this and while there are strict criteria to be adhered to there are no major restrictions to the type of activity we hope to see within the submissions. We hope that the amount which can be applied for may help sustain a project beyond the timeframe of the award, encourage collaboration between artists, artforms, other agencies and possible partner funders. The traditional arts team looks forward to receiving exciting new applications through this funding scheme.

The award is open to individuals and organisations. Applications must be made online, and applicants should register with the Arts Council’s online services well in advance of the application deadline.

www.artscouncil.ie