The Irish Government has announced a new €6.5 million Creative Climate Action Fund III to support ambitious creative and cultural projects that help communities engage with climate change and encourage meaningful behavioural change. The announcement was made by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, alongside Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan and Minister for Climate, Energy and Environment Darragh O’Brien. The fund aims to harness the power of arts and culture to deepen public awareness of climate challenges and empower citizens to take sustainable action.
Creative Climate Action Fund III is delivered under the Creative Ireland Programme in partnership with the Shared Island Initiative and the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment. Running from 2026 to 2029, the fund will support large-scale, multi-annual projects that combine expertise from the arts and cultural sector, climate science and community engagement. It reflects a cross-government approach designed to align creative practice with national climate objectives.
The fund seeks proposals that respond imaginatively to key national climate priorities, including those outlined in the Climate Action Plan 2025, the National Dialogue on Climate Action and the work of the Just Transition Commission. As part of the total allocation, €1 million has been earmarked for cross-border initiatives under the Shared Island strand, with the goal of strengthening cooperation and collaboration between communities across the island of Ireland in addressing climate change.
Grants ranging from €400,000 to €750,000 will be awarded to organisations with demonstrated experience in delivering large-scale public engagement projects. Funded initiatives are expected to involve extensive public participation over a four-year period, supporting long-term community involvement and systemic change.
Government leaders emphasised that climate change represents a shared and urgent challenge requiring cooperation across sectors and communities. They highlighted the unique role of the creative and cultural sector in capturing public imagination, inspiring collective responsibility and supporting the national Climate Action Plan. By integrating arts, culture and climate policy, the fund aims to foster deeper connections between people and their environment while promoting sustainable behaviours.
Applications for the fund will open on 16 February 2026 and close on 15 April 2026. Since 2021, the Creative Ireland Programme, in partnership with climate and Shared Island initiatives, has invested €8.5 million in 57 creative climate action projects. The new funding round builds on this foundation, reinforcing Ireland’s commitment to innovative, community-driven approaches to climate resilience and environmental action.
