KERRY Local Creative Youth Partnership at the Kerry Education and Training Board has announced two strands of funding available to community-based organisations, youth service providers, early years’ settings, youth groups and creative practitioners who wish to develop creativity projects for children or young people in their communities.
Applications are being sought under the Creative Youth Grant Scheme and the Youth Theatre Grant Scheme for projects that are child and youth led, that are highly creative in nature and can be realised in 2022.
Application forms can be downloaded from www.kerryetb.ie/creativity-grants Irish language versions are available on www.kerryetb.ie/deontais Completed application forms must be submitted by email by the closing date to Deirdre Enright, the Creative Youth Co-Ordinator at Kerry ETB and only official application forms can be accepted.
Ann O’Dwyer, Director of Schools, Youth and Music at Kerry ETB, said they had such a positive year in 2021, providing over €86,000 worth of funding to assist creative projects in 23 community settings across Kerry.
“We hope to build on that next year and ensure that our funding reaches communities that need access the most” she said.
While the fund is competitive in nature, project concepts that reflect the voices and ideas of young participants are welcome, especially if they represent more marginalised and vulnerable young people in the community.
Organisations and groups who prioritise work with more marginalised groups and who want to prioritise creativity in their local area should look to this fund as an opportunity for support.
Deirdre Enright, Co-Ordinator of the LCYP Programme stated: “The fund is also of benefit to creative professionals and facilitators from across the creative industries who wish to offer uniquely creative opportunities for children and young people in Kerry”.
Collaborations between organisations and service providers are welcome but applying organisations must capture the views of potential participants in their applications. To support communities in finding creative professionals who can work with young people, the LCYP has developed a listing online on the ETB website.
A public session on the grants process has been organised online for Friday, January 7 at 11.00am. Anyone who requires more information about the application process is welcome to join the meeting but prior registration is necessary by emailing denright@kerryetb.ie
Projects in 2021 focussed on children and young people experiencing homelessness and direct provision on new communities and more marginalised groups, on groups experiencing isolation and bias, on issue based activity that affects the lives of young people and on the creativity of more vulnerable young people.
Improving the creative skills and know-how of young people is also supported and in the form of three new youth theatre projects in the county.
Applications will be accepted from community based organisations, including Family Resource Centres, preschool and early years’ providers, youth groups and youth service providers as well as local creative or cultural organisations.
Public sector bodies can also apply, as can charities and not-for-profit companies, private sector providers of creative services and projects including STEM and tech professionals, artists, and creatives from across the cultural and creative industries. The closing date for receipt of applications to the Youth Theatre Grant Scheme is Friday, January 21, while the closing date for applications to the Creative Youth Grant Scheme is Friday, January 28.
