Irish govt launches multi-million euro fund for creative climate action projects

A €3 million fund for creative projects promoting climate change awareness has been launched by the government. 

The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, and the Minister for the Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport, Eamon Ryan, today (November 26) announced news of the ‘Creative Climate Action II: Agents of Change’ scheme. 

The scheme is calling for creative projects which encourage people to rethink their lifestyles, connect with biodiversity crisis, enable a fair and just transition in making lifestyle changes, and assist citizens to understand the climate crisis. 

Minister Catherine Martin, said, "In 2021 Ireland’s Climate Action Plan outlined the steps that needed to be taken to create a more sustainable future for Ireland. That plan was ambitious and called on all sectors of society including the creative community to play their part in achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

"I am proud that the Irish government has such an explicit link between national cultural policy and climate policy.

"The first Creative Climate Action projects have done much to capture the public imagination, mobilise communities and show how to make the changes needed. Climate change is humanity’s most important challenge and we need creative projects such as these to galvanise positive action."

Successful teams will include experts from the climate science, community engagement as well as the arts and culture sectors with two funding strands available to applicants including 'Spark' and 'Ignite'. 

The former is for those looking to pilot a new idea or who want to deliver a creative project at a local level.

Organisations, community groups and creative groups who can inspire, build knowledge, skills and confidence are welcome to apply for grants between €20,000 and €50,000. 

The latter strand is suitable for those with experience in delivering public engagement projects at scale, and are proposing durational projects with extensive public participation. 

Applicants may be eligible for grants between €50,000 and €250,000. 
 
Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, said, "Significant cultural and systemic change across all of society is needed to address the climate crisis. This change can only be achieved through fully exploring avenues for innovative and creative ways to inspire people to take action.

"The cultural sector has a unique part to play in this culture change and I look forward to seeing the exciting ways projects funded through the next phase of the Creative Climate Action Programme will engage people." 

Applications for the scheme will open in December 2022 via this link.