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Tourism and culture
Applications closed on Friday 30 October 2026 at 5pm.
Currently we have two small grants open to applications from the cultural sector.
Applications close on Friday 8 January 2027 at 12 noon. For small grants information, go to Grants and funding.
We launched Teenage Kicks micro grant programme in February 2026.
We provided small grants to venues, festivals, promoters and organisations, to support high-quality gigs and concerts for people aged 18 and under.
The grants helped applicants provide a safe musical experience in venues with no alcohol served at bars.
Applications are closed. Checks our events section for Teenage Kicks events.
Bank of Ideas is a scheme where individuals and groups can submit their creative ideas for funding in their local area. To decide which projects are funded, the people of Belfast vote for their favourite projects. This year we were looking for ideas that align with the Fleadh Cheoil theme of 'Celebrating Together'.
Following our Bank of Ideas Voting Day on Sunday 10 May, our scheme will fund these projects:
Applications for this programme closed on Thursday 2 July 2026.
In April 2026, we awarded two-year grants to the 35 arts and heritage organisations in this table. Each link opens in a new window.
| Arts or heritage organisation | Web |
|---|---|
| Amadan Ensemble | |
| An Droichead | An Droichead |
| Arts and Disability Forum (University of Atypical) | University of Atypical |
| Arts Care NI | Arts Care |
| Beat Carnival | Beat Carnival |
| Belfast Library and Society for Promoting Knowledge | Linenhall |
| Bruiser Theatre Company | Bruiser Theatre |
| Cahoots NI | Cahoots NI |
| Community Arts Partnership | CAP Arts Centre |
| Digital Arts Studio | Digital Arts Studio |
| DU Dance | DU DanceNI |
| Dumbworld Ltd | Dumbworld |
| Fighting Words Northern Ireland | Fighting Words |
| Golden Thread Gallery | Golden Thread Gallery |
| Household Belfast CIC | Household Belfast |
| Kabosh | Kabosh |
| Kids in Control (Rogue Encounters) | Rogue Encounters |
| Maiden Voyage (NI) Ltd | Maiden Voyage Dance |
| Moving on Music Ltd | |
| New Lodge Arts | North Belfast Arts |
| Off the Rails Dance Ltd | Off the Rails Dance |
| Open Arts | Open Arts |
| Paragon Studios Ltd (PS2) | PS Squared |
| Photoworks North (Source) | Source |
| Prime Cut Productions | Primecut Productions |
| Queen Street Studios | Queen Street Studios |
| Replay Theatre Company | Replay Theatre |
| Strand Arts Centre | Strand Arts Centre |
| Streetwise Community Circus | Streetwise Community Circus |
| Terra Nova Productions | Terra Nova Productions |
| The Belfast Ensemble | The Belfast Ensemble |
| The Nerve Centre (Nerve Belfast) | Nerve Centre |
| The Royal Ulster Academy | Royal Ulster Academy |
| Ulster Touring Opera | Ulster Touring Opera |
| Wheelworks | Wheelworks Arts |
In April 2026, we awarded two-year grants to the 15 festivals in this table. Each link opens in a new window.
| Festival | Web |
|---|---|
| Belfast Film Festival | Belfast Film Festival |
| Belfast International Arts Festival | Belfast International Arts Festival |
| Belfast Photo Festival | Belfast Photo Festival |
| Belfast Pride | Belfast Pride |
| Belfast TradFest | Belfast Traditional Music |
| Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival | CQAF |
| Cinemagic International Film Festival | Cinemagic |
| Docs Ireland | Docs Ireland |
| Eastside Arts Festival | Eastside Arts |
| Féile an Earraigh (Féile Spring Festival) | Féile Belfast |
| Féile an tSamhain (Féile Harvest Festival) | Féile Belfast |
| Festival of Fools | Fools Belfast |
| Imagine Belfast Festival | Imagine Belfast |
| Out to Lunch Festival | Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival |
| Outburst Arts Festival | Outburst Arts |
In April 2024, we awarded grants to the ten arts and heritage organisations in this table. Each link opens in a new window.
| Arts or heritage organisation | Web |
|---|---|
| Belfast Community Circus School Ltd | Circusful |
| Belfast Exposed | Belfast Exposed |
| Crescent Arts Centre | Crescent Arts |
| Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich | Culturlann |
| Duncairn Arts Centre | The Duncairn |
| Lyric Theatre (NI) | Lyric Theatre |
| Oh Yeah Music Centre | Oh Yeah Belfast |
| The Black Box Trust | Black Box Belfast |
| The MAC (Metropolitan Arts Centre) | The Mac Live |
| Ulster Orchestra Society Ltd | Ulster Orchestra |
If you would like information on recent funding awards, case studies of recipients or our guide on cultural funding, contact us by email: [email protected]
In April 2024, we awarded four-year grants to the four festivals in this table. Each link opens in a new window.
| Festival | Web |
|---|---|
| ArtsEkta | Belfast Mela |
| Féile an Phobail | Féile an Phobail August Festival |
| Young at Art | Belfast Children's Festival |
| NI Science Festival | NI Science Festival |
Our Community Festivals Fund (CFF) provides grants ranging from £2,500 to £10,000 for local groups to run community-based festivals. The fund aims to increase social cohesion, celebrate cultural identity, and strengthen community relations through arts, heritage, and cultural events. These festivals are being supported by our Community Festivals Fund in 2026-2027:
Our Cultural Multi-Annual Grants scheme offers two funding strands. Under this scheme, we offer two funding strands which are available for two or four years.
This scheme includes:
For festivals and events:
For arts and heritage organisations with a year-round programme of activity:
We keep a record of grants that we have awarded.
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