Funding Available For Heritage Projects In Wicklow.

A broad range of project types are eligible for funding under the scheme.

The Heritage Council is now accepting applications from community groups and not for profit non-governmental organisations in Wicklow for its Community Heritage Grant Scheme 2024. All relevant information is available from the Heritage Council’s website here. (opens at 12 today)

A broad range of project types are eligible for funding under the scheme including:

• Conservation works to collections, objects or places, including natural heritage projects e.g. control of invasive species or habitat restoration works; conservation works to buildings, including churches; stabilisation works to ruined structures;
• Surveys, reports, plans, and audits to inform the future management of buildings and monuments, habitats, collections, or objects.
• Accessibility projects that make heritage activities more accessible for people with disabilities e.g. building ramps, automatic doors, handrails, tactile interpretation
• Projects that help people engage more with their heritage e.g. interactive maps, videos, virtual exhibitions, podcasts, websites
• Purchase of specialised equipment e.g archival boxing for vulnerable documents, monitoring equipment for humidity or light, interpretation/multimedia equipment, specialised software
• Projects that address the heritage of minority groups e.g an oral history project documenting Traveller heritage
• Training in traditional skills and crafts e.g. workshops on skills such as roofing, thatch, dry stone walling etc.
• Citizen science projects on environmental conservation

Last year, seven Wicklow-based projects were funded through the scheme. These included a project from Birdwatch Ireland to improve access and habitats at East Coast Nature Reserve in Wicklow, and a project to develop an interpretation strategy and visitors experience vision for Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation in Wicklow. For an overview of all projects funded under the scheme in previous years, see list of 2023 recipients here and 2022 recipients here.

The minimum grant that can be requested through the scheme is €500. The maximum is €25,000.

The closing date for applications is Monday, 25th of March 2024 at 5pm. Applications must be made via the Heritage Council’s online grants management system. Funded projects must be completed by 15th of November 2024. Full details are available here

The Heritage Council will host a Zoom information webinar on the scheme at 12 noon on the 4th of March with general application advice followed by a question and answers session.