The Creative Individuals Recovery Programme (CIRP) is open for online applications from 12noon on Wednesday 15 September and will close at 12noon on Wednesday 6 October for grants up to £2,000. For full information on eligibility, guidance notes and to apply visit the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Website.
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI) and the Department for Communities (DfC) with the Minister for Communities, Deirdre Hargey, have opened this new recovery funding programme, worth £5 million, co-designed to support individuals in the Arts and Creative sectors retain valuable skills. Individuals can apply for grants of up to £2,000 each.
CIRP funding aims to support one-off costs that are incurred by individuals working within the creative economy, helping them to re-engage with, or maintain their creative practice. Funding should help individuals and artists sustain and build the professional and technical skills, which are so important to the entire creative ecosystem. This new programme will not replace loss of income for creatives as a result of the pandemic, nor will it support creative purpose relating to heritage or indigenous languages. CIRP will require applicants to undertake activity linked to their practice or art form.
Those eligible to apply include self-employed and freelance individuals working in the creative sector. D/deaf and disabled artists will be supported via a separate award via ACNI to the University of Atypical who regularly support this particular cohort, to ensure that artists with particular needs are appropriately supported through the application process. More details on the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Website.
Communities Minister, Deirdre Hargey, said,
“I have listened to the recommendations of the Culture, Arts and Heritage Recovery Taskforce and today I am launching a support scheme to provide grants to individuals to encourage them to remain in the creative arts sector.” (see the Minister’s full release here)
