Council launch festival fund
Organisers of festivals around county Cork are now being invited to apply for funding for the coming year.
As of yesterday, Wednesday, Cork County Council is welcoming applications for funding under the Cork County Local Festival Fund 2023.
A total of €65,000 is available through the fund and applicants can apply for up to a maximum of €6,000 per festival. 75% of funding under the grant scheme is provided by Fáilte Ireland, with Cork County Council providing 25%.
Festivals may be eligible for funding if they are within the boundaries of Cork county, can attract domestic visitors, and can generate a minimum of 250 visitor bed-nights in paid accommodation. A festival should also have a minimum expenditure of €7,500 and be able to demonstrate a commitment to sustainable best practices.
Welcoming the opening of the scheme, Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Danny Collins said the crucial funding will enable the hosting of some of Cork’s best and most unique festivals in the months ahead.
He said: “Not only are festivals an important part of our cultural identity, but they are also significant economic drivers. As well as entertaining and bringing local communities together, local festivals have the potential to attract thousands of visitors to experience all that Cork County has to offer.” Ciara Sugrue, Head of Festivals at Fáilte Ireland, added: “Festivals and events play a key role in delivering brilliant visitor experiences, providing a unique reason for visitors to choose a destination and increasing footfall for local businesses, supporting jobs and revenue generation. Domestic tourism will be hugely important again this year as we work towards recovery.”
Formerly known as the Fáilte Ireland Regional Festival Fund, Cork County Council took over management of the Local Festival Fund in 2018, allocating a total of €285,000 between 2018-2022 in support of local festivals and events.
Further information on the Local Festival Fund is available at corkcoco.ie.
Online applications close on 19 January at 5pm. For further details contact local.festivalfund@corkcoco.ie.