Almost €20,000 in arts funding awarded to 18 Offaly projects
Offaly County Council has awarded almost €20,000 in arts funding to a total of 18 applicants under the 2024 Arts Acts Grant Scheme, with the highest single allocation of €1,800 being awarded to Tullamore Musical Society.
Details of the grants scheme were outlined at the February meeting of the local authority this week, with Cllr Declan Harvey proposing the allocations and Cllr Tony McCormack seconding.
The second highest allocation of €1,600 went to Gemini Players in Edenderry for a musical performance and to Coláiste Naomh Cormac for a drama project. Three allocations of €1,400 each went to Crinkill NS (musical performance); Eden Chorale (for choral performance) and Dochas Offaly, for a visual arts project.
The Irish Midlands Youth Orchestra secured €1,380 in funding for musical performance, while Banagher and Rahan Drama Groups were each allocated €1,200 for drama projects.
Midland Strings received €1,190 for a music project, while two allocations of €1,000 each went to Killeigh Comhaltas, for music support, and to the Irish Wheelchair Assocation for a music programme.
Six other groups were awarded sums of less than €1,000 each for various projects, namely: €875 to St. Brendan's PS in Birr for dance; €765 to Avista – Riverview Resources for a visual arts project; €756 to Coolderry Central School for a dance project; €500 to St. Brendan's Community School, Birr for animation; €480 to Co. Offaly Federation ICA for a visual arts project and €420 to Red Embers Dance Troupe for dance.
In her written report on the Arts Acts Grants Scheme, Ann Dillon, Director of Service for Community and Culture with Offaly County Council said the purpose of the scheme is to “support a range of acts activity and practice within the community context” such as workshops, a project, presentation or event which would stimulate an interest in the arts and give people a knowledge and appreciation of all forms of artistic expression, and would help to improve the standards of the arts in Offaly.