The Arts Council has been formally established and today launches its official website at arts.gov.vin, where its funding programmes, public art commissions and support for artists will be published.
Funding, public art and support
- Funding Programmes
Four grant programmes for artists and arts organisations, with the first rounds opening from 7 September 2026.
- Grants Awarded
The Council's first report on awards: 169 grants honoured from the transition period and the budget for the first year.
- Public Art
Nine commissioned works for the public places of six Network sites, and how new commissions are made.
- Support for Artists
Residencies, the studio register, development bursaries and the register of artists.
- Council and Committees
How the Council is constituted, its four committees and the schedule of meetings.
- Frequently asked questions
Who may apply, how applications are assessed and how public art commissions are chosen.
Latest announcements
All news- Arts Council Opens First Funding Rounds
Development Bursaries open tomorrow, 7 September 2026, and the first rounds of Project Grants, the Commissioning Fund and Organisation Grants open between 14 September and 5 October. Guidance and closing dates are published from today.
- Arts Council Confirms Nine Public Art Commissions
Nine commissioned works at six Network sites, with a combined value of 2,640,000 credits, transfer to the Council's Public Art Programme. One work is complete, two temporary works open in October 2026 and six permanent works are due between November 2026 and April 2027.
- Arts Council Publishes First Report on Awards
The Council's first report records 169 awards worth 6,906,000 credits made under interim arrangements during the transition period, from 330 applications, and sets out the 19,000,000 credit budget for the Council's first year.
About the Council
The Arts Council of the Velocity Interoperability Network is the public body responsible for the arts across the Velocity Interoperability Network. It funds artists and arts organisations, commissions and cares for public art at Network sites, and supports artists through residencies, studios and bursaries.
The Council was established on 6 September 2026 and takes over the arts funds, commissions and residency schemes previously operated separately by member organisations. Its decisions are made by panels against published criteria, and every award is recorded in a public register.
Milestones
6 September 2026
Arts Council established
Responsibility for public funding of the arts, public art at Network sites and support for artists across the Network.
6 September 2026
arts.gov.vin launched
Press releases, funding guidance, the register of public art and details of support for artists published on the official website.
6 September 2026
Funding rounds, commissions and the first report on awards
Development Bursaries open on 7 September and the first rounds of the three other programmes between 14 September and 5 October; nine public art commissions are confirmed; 169 interim awards worth 6,906,000 credits are honoured.
Forthcoming
First Council meeting and first round decisions
The Council meets for the first time on 17 September 2026. Decisions on the first Project Grants round follow on 27 November 2026, and the first quarterly report on awards is published in December.