Funding Sources
Before you undertake any publishing you must consider the costs entailed. If you decide to try for external funding to help you with production costs, you should bear in mind that getting financial backing for any Northern Ireland publication is very difficult as there are only a number of grants available and competition for these are high. In addition, the application procedures can be quite time-consuming, so you need to factor that into your schedule.
Here is a list of possible funding sources.
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland offers a wide range of funding opportunities through their exchequer and National Lottery Funds. If your organisation is applying for a grant of up to £10,000 you need to contact Awards for All (see below). If however you require more substantial funding you should contact:
Address:
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland
77 Malone Road, Belfast BT9 6AQ
Tel: (028) 9038 5200
Web: www.artscouncil-ni.org
Awards For All Northern Ireland
Awards For All Northern Ireland is supported by the Big Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Sports Council of Northern Ireland. It offers awards of between £500 and £10,000 to non-profit organisations. One of its aims is ‘to bring people together and increase community activity’, which of course can be achieved by recording people’s memories, producing a local history or celebrating a significant anniversary through the medium of print. For further information contact:
Awards For All
1 Cromac Quay, Cromac Wood, Ormeau Road, Belfast BT7 2JD
Tel: (028) 9055 9090
Web: www.awardsforall.org.uk/northernireland/
Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society
The Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society will consider applications for financial assistance with publications relating specifically to Irish historical studies. The Society will assess each application, and grants of up to approximately £1,500 are available. In return publishers must acknowledge the Society in the publication and give the Society two copies. For further information contact: The Secretary, 9 Rugby Street, Belfast BT7 1PX
Tel: (028) 90321707
Web: www.belfastsociety.com
Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge/Foras na Gaeilge
Publishers seeking funding to assist in the publication of Irish-language books should in the first instance contact Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge. All the contact details are available on their Website www.leabhar.ie. Where Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge is unable to assist, Foras na Gaeilge can consider an application for part-sponsorship for a book in Irish or a book related to cultural aspects of the Irish language. For further information contact:
Foras na Gaeilge
Westgate House, 2-4 Queen Street, Belfast, BT1 6ED
Tel: 028 9089 0970
Web: www.gaeilge.ie
Community Foundation for Northern Ireland
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland manages a number of funds which aim to tackle poverty, social inclusion and social injustice. The Telecommunity Programme, in conjunction with BT, supports small locally based community projects run by or for teenagers, projects for people with disabilities and in certain cases, older people. For further information contact:
Community Foundation for Northern Ireland
Citylink Business Park, Albert Street, Belfast BT12 4HQ
Tel: (028) 9024 5927
Email: info@communityfoundationni.org
OR
Community Foundation for Northern Ireland
Unit 4, Rath Mor Centre, Bligh’s Lane, Creggan, Derry
Tel: 02871371547
Email: info@communityfoundationni.org
Web: www.communityfoundationni.org
Community Relations Council
The Community Relations Council (CRC) offers financial support and advice to projects run by community or voluntary groups that have a community relations purpose or value. The Publications Grant Scheme awards grants of up to £5,000 and it aims ‘to encourage the production and dissemination of publications that will contribute to greater understanding and better community relations in Northern Ireland’. For further information contact:
Community Relations Council
6 Murray Street, Belfast BT1 6DW
Tel: (028) 9022 7500
Web: www.community-relations.org.uk
Esmé Mitchell Trust
The Esmé Mitchell Trust is particularly interested in assisting charitable projects in Northern Ireland, with a particular emphasis on cultural or artistic endeavours. Individuals cannot apply. For further information contact:
Esmé Mitchell Trust
Lisa Smyth, Cleaver Fulton Rankin Solicitors, Belfast BT2 7FW
Tel: (028) 9024 3141
Ulster Garden Villages
Ulster Garden Villages primarily allocates funds to projects within Northern Ireland that will have a positive impact in Northern Ireland’. In addition to outright grants, financial assistance may be given by way of loans which may carry certain conditions at the discretion of the Committee. Individuals may not apply. For further information contact:
Ulster Garden Villages Ltd
‘Forestview’, Purdy’s Lane, Newtownbreda, Belfast BT8 7AR
Tel: (028) 9049 1111
Web: www.ulstergardenvillages.co.uk
Ulster Local History Trust
The Ulster Local History Trust aims to raise the standard of local historical work by giving financial assistance and advice to local history societies throughout Northern Ireland. Grants of up to £1000 are available. For further information contact:
Ulster Local History Trust,c/o Vicky Herbert,
18 Clonaog Valley
Lisnaskea
Co. Fermanagh BT92 0LJ
Tel: 028 6772 1730
Web: www.ulht.org.uk
Ulster-Scots Agency
The Ulster-Scots Agency aims to promote the conservation, development, study and use of Ulster-Scots as a living language. The Agency runs a financial assistance scheme with grants available to projects with the aim of promoting the culture, heritage and language of Ulster-Scots. There is no restriction on the amount that can be applied for. For further information contact:
Ulster-Scots Agency
68-72 Great Victoria Street, Belfast, BT2 7BB
Tel: (028) 9023 1113
Web: www.ulsterscotsagency.com