Arts Council of Northern Ireland has opened applications for its National Lottery Support for Individual Artists Programme - Artists' International Development Fund 2026. Interested applicants are encouraged to click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
About Arts Council of Northern Ireland - National Lottery Support for Individual Artists Programme - Artists' International Development Fund
The Artists’ International Development Fund supports artists and creative organisations based in Northern Ireland to develop early-stage international collaborations and creative opportunities. The programme provides grants of for activities that build international networks, support artistic development, and increase global visibility. The fund is designed for emerging and practising artists with limited international experience who can demonstrate a clear opportunity for creative growth through overseas partnerships.
Benefits of Arts Council of Northern Ireland - National Lottery Support for Individual Artists Programme - Artists' International Development Fund
- Applicants can request grants between: £1,000 and £7,000
Arts Council of Northern Ireland - National Lottery Support for Individual Artists Programme - Artists' International Development Fund Requirements
Eligible applicants to Project Funding for Individuals are as follows:
- Artists of all disciplines and in all types of working practice , including creative producers, curators and editors.
- Emerging Artists: The Arts Council particularly welcomes applications from emerging artists - an emerging artist is someone who is in the early stage of their career as a professional artist. They are developing their artist ‘voice’ and are in the process of establishing a reputation and recognition among critics, galleries, producers etc, and will have practiced as a professional artist for less than 5 years.
- Practicing artists who are also undergraduates, postgraduates and academics employed at 3rd level educational institutions are eligible to apply but – where their project proposal lies within the same artform area as their study or work - they must prove that the funds which they are seeking are for costs which are not properly the concern of their employer and/or are not related to their work or academic study. They must submit evidence of this in the form of a letter on headed paper from their Head of Department.
- In the case of post-graduate students, the letter must clearly state the title of the student’s PhD thesis and include a declaration by the Head of Department. This declaration must state “The project for which funds are being sought does not form part of any academic work undertaken in relation to the above-titled PhD nor will it be assessed as part of any academic course”.
- Applicants undertaking a Masters or a PhD must also include a separate statement which provides information on how the project applied for differs from their Masters or PhD work.
- Please note: The Arts Council may use its own judgement in determining this matter.
In addition, AIDF applicants must also:
- have received recognition for their work in Northern Ireland;
- not have had extensive international experience;
- be applicants whose work will benefit from launching better international networks – either artistically or in terms of developing an audience for their work; and,
- be able to demonstrate an interest in their work from an overseas partner/host.
Application Date and Process
- Click on the link to the application website to apply.
Application Deadline
30 July, 2026
Opportunity Application
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Arts Council of Northern Ireland - National Lottery Support for Individual Artists Programme - Artists' International Development Fund
Apply for Arts Council of Northern Ireland - National Lottery Support for Individual Artists Programme - Artists' International Development Fund
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