Ireland unveils €6m funding for artists’ studios

The Irish government has announced a pilot scheme to increase the number of workspaces for artists and musicians, with a €6m fund for local authorities.

Announcing the government’s commitment to provide capital funding for the provision of artist workspaces, Culture Minister Catherine Martin said she was “acutely aware” of the pressures on artists and creatives, including those in the electronic music sector, to find suitable workspaces.

The scheme will be run through local authorities, who can apply for funding grants, provided they deliver 40 per cent match funding.

Each local authority can apply for up to €150,000 or €300,000  – depending on location – with funding focused on “the delivery of infrastructure to increase availability and access to artist workspaces”. 

“Much of our cultural infrastructure is initiated by our local authorities, and they have been a crucial resource in the delivery of arts and culture interventions over many decades,” said Martin

The plan follows last year's €3m Space to Create project by Dublin City Council to develop 60 artist workspaces in the city.

Last month, the Irish government revealed that a year into its pilot scheme to provide a basic income for artists, creatives receiving a weekly stipend are spending more time on their practice per week, less time working in other sectors and suffering less from depression and anxiety.