The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has opened its latest round of funding for individual artists, with three distinct grant programmes aimed at practitioners across all creative disciplines. Applications are now being accepted under the Support for Individual Artists Programme.

The Project Funding for Individuals stream offers grants from £3,000 to £10,000 to support work that develops an artist's creative practice and encourages innovation. It is open to artists at any career stage, including those just emerging. Successful applicants will undertake their projects between November 2026 and October 2027, with funding decisions announced in October following a noon deadline on 30 July 2026.

For established artists with national or international profiles, the Major Individual Artist programme provides four awards of £15,000 each. These awards are designed to enable ambitious and extended creative work with a significant outcome. The timeline requires submissions by noon on 20 July 2026, with decisions in August, for projects running from September 2026 to August 2027.

A third programme, the Artists’ International Development Fund, is co-funded by the British Council and offers grants between £1,000 and £7,000. It supports early-stage international opportunities, allowing artists and organisations to build links abroad and enhance Northern Ireland’s artistic reputation. The application deadline is noon on 30 July 2026, with awards for projects taking place between November 2026 and October 2027.

Artists may apply to more than one programme in a single round, but only one grant will be awarded per applicant. Each submission must be for a significantly different project and require a separate application form.

The funding aligns with the Arts Council’s ten-year strategy, specifically its goals to cultivate artistic talent and enable risk-taking. Full guidance notes and application details are available on the Arts Council’s website.