Forty-seven events throughout the country have been awarded a total of €350,000 by the Arts Council in the first round of the Small Festivals Scheme for 2006.
This specific funding programme is mainly aimed at small, locally-based events and festivals seeking Arts Council funding of up to €20,000. This upper limit is an increase on last year's sum of €10,000.
The awards offered may be used for one-off events or for a programme of activities. Seventy applications were received for the first round, seeking total funding from the council of €970,779.
A second 2006 deadline is offered to accommodate festivals and events that intend to take place in the second half of the year. The closing date for second-round applications is March 10th next.
Úna McCarthy, Arts Council programme manager of festivals and events, said the Small Festivals Scheme was intended to be user-friendly and to encourage new applications from small or locally-based events.
"The expansion of the scheme means that we can look forward to a really disparate and imaginative array of festivals throughout the country. In particular, it is really exciting that some festivals are expanding, while many new festivals are emerging from Tory Island to Waterford, with virtually every county in Ireland represented.
"It is also wonderful to see other stalwarts of the scheme receive the recognition they deserve with maximum funding."