Festivals
Festivals are key producers and presenters of the arts in Ireland.
They play a critical role in gathering the public and broadening access to the arts; they afford artists a space to innovate and test new ideas.
Con Horgan leads the Pedal Parade at Cavan Arts Festival. Photo: Sarah Hardy.
How we support festivals
Our festivals policy aims to support the development of a diverse and sustainable festival ecology in Ireland, celebrating artistic excellence and expanding public access to the arts.
‘After Love’ by Galway Dance Project at Galway International Arts Festival. Photo: Declan Colohan.
Partnerships and schemes
We deliver specific policy initiatives to enable festival sector capacity building and development.
Our latest programmes are:
Festival Makers Conference
Run in collaboration with academic partners, this triennial conference provides opportunities for festival-makers and stakeholders to exchange ideas, share skills and map developments in this vibrant sector.
Social Impact Measurement Festivals Pilot 2023-2025
We partnered with Quality Matters and eight pilot festival sites to test and research the social impact of festival programmes.
Publications
View the latest research and reports.
Latest funding opportunities for festivals
Spotlights
Festival makers we have supported share how their funding made a difference to their work.
Our Festivals team
Karl Wallace
Head of Festivals
Danielle Lynch
Festivals Adviser (Connacht and Munster)
Regina O’Shea
Festivals Officer
Orla Flanagan
Festivals Assessor (Ulster and Leinster)
Martin Rochford
Festivals Assistant
Gráinne Millar
Policy Support Services Adviser
Get in touch
Contact our team with your questions about festivals.
festivals@artscouncil.ie
+353 1 6180260