Cork County Council Invites Applications for Creative Startup Scheme 2024

Cork County Council Invites Applications for Creative Startup Scheme 2024. Pictured is a lady holding handmade products alongside a box shaped sign saying 'Made Local, made to last.'

Cork County Council has opened application for the Creative Startup Scheme 2024. The scheme supports artists, designers and craftspeople to establish retail spaces, as well as reinforcing the Council’s work in revitalising commercial centres in towns and villages.

Launching the scheme, Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Frank O’Flynn said 

This fund will provide a welcome boost for the successful projects and will help to stimulate creative activity throughout the county. Over the past four years the scheme has supported the establishment of several creative retail spaces including Blackwater Vally Makers in Fermoy, Owenabue Artist Collective in Carrigaline, Le Cheile Arts in Dunmanway and Orla O’Visual in Mallow. Creative businesses have the potential to breathe new life into our towns and villages, to establish them as destinations, and set them apart with individuality, and this scheme makes it financially viable for aspiring creative entrepreneurs to start up.

Speaking about the impact this scheme has had on her business and the wider community, Orla O’Regan, of Orla O’Visual Mallow said, “Local people are just delighted with the space as a means to buy locally made creative products, and to engage with workshops which are held here. Since receiving the grant there were several sold out workshops held in the studio. The Creative Startup Scheme has assisted in making my creative business more viable.”

The grant scheme is funded by Creative Ireland, a national programme which connects people, creativity and wellbeing. It is an all-of-government culture and wellbeing programme that inspires and transforms people, places and communities through creativity. Creative Ireland is committed to the vision that every person in Ireland should have the opportunity to realise their full creative potential.

Cork County Council will accept proposals that may be for the development of temporary or seasonal pop-up shops in vacant retail units. The scheme may also support proposals from small retailers who wish to expand the number of artists or makers they currently show or extend the space they currently occupy. The maximum amount that may be awarded for any one project will be €3,000. Applications will be assessed on a competitive basis.

An information session will be held online on Thursday 15th February at 1pm. To register, email creative.ireland@corkcoco.ie
For further information and to apply for the Creative Startup Scheme, click the button below.

The closing date for applications is Friday the 15th of March at 5.00pm. Queries can be made to creativeireland@corkcoco.ie

Cork County Council’s Arts and Library Service is also seeking creative facilitators and musicians to work with them over the next two years as part of a panel of experienced skilled facilitators. Applications can be made before 5pm on Friday the 15th of March 2024. For further information and to apply, click the button below.
 

Creative Startup Scheme

Learn more about the Creative Startup Scheme.

Arts Facilitator Application

Apply here.

Musician Application

Apply here.