Laois Arts Centre secures €125,000 in funding

Dunamaise Arts Centre has received a grant of €125,000 from the Arts Council for 2023. 

The funding, part of €9,486,140 allocated to arts centres nationally, was announced by the Arts Council, the Irish government agency for developing the arts.

"The infrastructure of arts centres, jointly supported with local government, is essential in enabling people of all ages and backgrounds in every part of the country to experience the very best of the arts. It is also essential in providing resources to artists in the development of their work," said Director of the Arts Council, Maureen Kennelly.

"In addition, we are delighted to increase our support to Ealaín na Gaeltachta which supports arts audiences and artists in Gaeltacht regions in partnership with Údarás na Gaeltachta,“ she said. 

The purpose of Arts Centre Funding is to invest in and support the infrastructure of Arts Centres required to sustain and develop the arts in Ireland.  Arts Centres support the creation, presentation and mediation of the arts across a range of artforms and arts practices.  They support professional, collaborative, voluntary and amateur arts practice. 

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In a space where artists and audiences meet, Arts Centres are vital to the sustainability of the arts nationally.  

The Arts Council currently provides programming and revenue supports to over fifty Arts Centres throughout the country. A key part of the Arts Council strategy, Making Great Art Work, is to invest in public engagement.  

This funding, along with the Arts Councils #LiveIs campaign, which launched at the end of 2022, looks at continuing to have audiences return in ever-greater numbers to live arts performances.