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Local authorities are one of the largest funders of cultural activities in Britain. They support a wide range of activities aimed at improving the area that you live in.

Local authorities look to fund projects that contribute to the social wellbeing of the community. Their priorities tend to be projects that help to build community cohesion and pride or develop the skills of a particular group of people.

Festivals, parades and other celebratory events that allow the community to come together and share an appreciation of different cultures are particularly popular with local authorities. Irish festivals and particularly Irish festivals that include other ethnic groups are generally more likely to be supported.

Projects that cater in some way for other minority groups such as the disabled, young people and older people may also attract local authority funding.

You will need to talk to the relevant local authority department to find out if your project is relevant for their scheme. Heritage projects, arts events and festivals may come under one department but may also be separated into different departments.

Most local authorities now have a cultural/arts strategy which sets out their aims and ojectives. This will also identify the councils priorities and targets for development over the next three to five years. It is useful wherever possible to link the benefits of your project directly to these targets.

Local authorities like to see a contribution towards a project from one or two other sources (match funding). Arts Council, Lottery, DION, sponsorship and other funding can be used to match local authorities.

Local authorities will not fund activities that you have been running successfully for a long period. They are interested in new ideas and new ways of developing your activities. They are unlikely to fund capital purchases for existing activities such as new musical instruments or new kit for a hurling team.

If you are successful, local authorities will always require you spend the money you receive on what you say you will. They will want detailed accounts of you expenditure and the will want to include some type of evaluation process.