Organisations in Laois receive €244,000 in Arts Council funding for 2026

ORGANISATIONS based in County Laois have received a total of €244,000 in Arts Council funding for 2026.

They are among the 148 arts organisations, arts centres, local authorities and creative initiatives who have received funding from the Arts Council as part of its 2026 development programme.

The two organisations in Laois which will receive funding are Dunamaise Arts Centre (€145,000) and Laois County Council (€99,000).

The Arts Council has has awarded grants nationally totalling €72.3 million. This funding represents more than half of the Arts Council’s annual investment, benefitting organisations and partners that provide the local and national infrastructure for the arts.

This framework enables individual artists to deliver on their creative vision for the benefit of audiences around the country.

Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan said public investment through grant funding is essential to sustaining and developing the arts across every part of Ireland.

He continued: “These awards support artists and organisations to realise ambitious creative work across all artforms, while ensuring that people of all ages and backgrounds have meaningful opportunities to engage with the arts in their everyday lives.” 

Further funding announcements for 2026 are expected to be made later in the year. Additional funding will be allocated for disability access costs to promote more inclusive participation in the arts.

Director of the Arts Council, Moling Ryan, said: “Through its 2026 budget, the Arts Council is prioritising support for arts organisations across Ireland, enabling them to sustain their work and plan confidently for the year ahead.

“These funding decisions for 2026 will support artists, audiences and communities to come together through shared creative experiences and meaningful cultural activity.”