Invitation to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the EU Presidency Culture Programme - Local Authority Programming Scheme 2026
Closing date: Tuesday 3rd February, 5pm 2026
Wexford County Council is inviting expressions of interest from Arts and Cultural Festivals/ Events taking place in Wexford between July and December 2026, to participate in a cultural programme marking Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which will take place during the second half of 2026.
The Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, has invited all Local Authorities to make a formal application to the Department’s EU Presidency Culture Programme – Local Authority Programming Scheme.
Background
Ireland will take on the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, for the eighth time. This Presidency will provide an important opportunity for Ireland to lead, and to shape, the work of the EU. The Department of Culture Communications and Sport is responsible for the delivery of a culture programme across Ireland and the EU Member States during this time. The culture programme is the most citizen facing and public element of the Presidency and offers an opportunity to showcase the best of Irish arts and culture both traditional and contemporary.
As part of the Culture Programme the Minister would like to see cultural activity in every county in Ireland to ensure that Irish citizens can participate in the EU Presidency and reflect on Ireland’s role as an EU Member State. Local Authorities have been invited to apply for funding to the Department to support a programme of appropriate artistic/cultural events during July to December 2026.
Expressions of Interest
Wexford County Council is offering an opportunity to arts and cultural festivals/events in the county to put forward projects/events/ideas which would take place as part of your existing festival/event and could meet the objectives of the Department: showcasing the best of Irish arts and culture both traditional and contemporary which is citizen facing and has a European element in the broadest sense. This could be around showcasing of arts, language, culture, creative collaborations or exchange, sharing of traditions, presentation of work across artforms, presentation of Irish arts and culture within a European context and enhancing programming at your existing festival.
Your Expression of Interest (500 words max.) should include:
- Details/description of the proposed event/concept/activity
- A statement on how the proposal will showcase Irish arts and creativity and/or reflect Ireland’s contemporary cultural strengths during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union and describe the European element of the activity
- Dates and location of the proposed event
- A list of proposed participants/artists
- Budget details, including the anticipated funding request to Wexford Arts Office under this scheme
What is not eligible
- Festival/events that are not arts and culture related
- Capital costs, such as the purchasing of equipment
- Festival activities taking place outside of Wexford County.
- Festival activities taking place outside of the time frame i.e. July – December 2026
- Activities that are for participating in a competition.
- Activities that are for profit-making.
- Training programmes or programmes taking place in a formal education setting where the activity does not engage with the local community.
Budget Guidelines
Wexford County Council can apply for a limited amount of funding under this programme. This invitation for Expressions of Interest invites a range of festivals to make submissions.
At this stage in the process, we are giving festivals a guideline as to the range of funding between €2,000 to €6,000 per festival/ event, but this will very much depend on the response to this EOI.
Wexford County Council will put in place a selection process to select the most suitable proposals to form part of our application to the Department. We may not be in a position to include all Expressions of Interest submitted but will endeavour to have a geographic and artistic spread of opportunities for citizens to engage with.
The maximum amount of funding Wexford County council can apply for is €50,000. No funding will be confirmed until Wexford County Council gets funding confirmation form the department.
Festivals/ events, if supported under this scheme will need to acknowledge the support of the programme as is normal for funding schemes and details will follow from Wexford Arts Office is successful in achieving the full funding sought.
Expressions of Interest Deadline is Tuesday 3rd February, 5pm 2026
- Please send your application in via e-mail with subject Wexford EU Presidency Culture Programme to arts@wexfordcoco.ie
- Clearly label any attachments with your festival name + WEX EU Presidency Cultural Programme
For any queries please contact:
Email: arts@wexfordcoco.ie
Tel: 053 9196396
Wexford County Council acknowledges and the tight turnaround for this Expression of Interest which is in order to meet the application deadline from the department to all local authorities.
For Further information please visit:
Cultural programme of Presidencies of EU council in 2025: Poland, first half 2025 https://polish-presidency.consilium.europa.eu/en/presidency/international-cultural-programme-of-the-polish-presidency/
Denmark, second half 2025 https://danish-presidency.consilium.europa.eu/en/presidency/cultural-programme
Image Credit: Cikada Circus at Springmoves Dance Festival Photo by Abigail Denniston
Accessibility text: Two people performing acrobatic circus outdoors and a wide group of audience. Pink box with text: Wexford Arts and Cultural Festivals/Events Call Out
Expressions of Interest to the EU Presidency Culture Programme and Deadline: Tuesday 3rd February, 5pm 2026 with Wexford County Council Logo and Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht logo.