Funding joy for Highlanes from Arts Council

THERE was good news for the Highlanes Gallery recently as it was revealed it will receive an increase of 7% towards the programme in the Strategic Funding Award from the Arts Council Ireland.

In a Facebook post about the funding, the gallery thanked the Arts Council for the award and the artists for their ‘work, imagination and ingenuity’ as well as the centre’s loyal and increasing audiences, project partners and all who they interact with professionally.

‘and all not without our committed team who take pride and passion in their work, and our board, Louth County Council, and sponsors, friends patrons and benefactors, stakeholders, and the community at large,’ the post added.

The Arts Council allocated €28.4 million under its Strategic Funding Programme with grants made to 156 organisations in everything from literature, music, dance, theatre, and street art to circus, opera, spectacle, film, architecture and traditional arts, as well as arts in education.

The programme supports established organisations, with several groups also receiving funding at this level for the first time.

The council has also said it will increase funding next year through a new arts grants funding programme and has set aside €1.6 million for this purpose. It will be accepting applications to this programme from March.