Arts overview
The Department provides funding for the arts in Northern Ireland, sets arts policy and supports arts based initiatives.
Arts Council
Arts Council NI is an arm’s length body of the Department for Communities. The Department provides funding to Arts Council NI for distribution, and to enable it to develop the arts in Northern Ireland. Information on funding opportunities, both past and present, can be found on the Arts Council website
The Partnership Agreement sets out the partnership arrangements agreed between the Department and Arts Council NI.
Ministerial letter of expectations 2025-26 - Arts Council NI
The letter of expectations sets out the Minister’s priorities for 2025-26 to allow the Arts Council to frame its work to align with those priorities:
Arts Council Strategy
Arts Council Strategy aims to place the arts at the heart of social, economic and creative life in Northern Ireland. The Arts Council’s 5 year Strategic Framework for 2019-2024 is Inspire | Connect | Lead
Creative industries
The Department plays a key role in supporting Creative Industries. The sector ranges from television to crafts, advertising to architecture and music to fashion design. The common thread is that the activities they pursue have their origin in individual creativity, skill and talent.
Websites of interest
- Arts Council
- Northern Ireland Screen
- Grand Opera House
- Lyric Theatre
- The Metropolitan Arts Centre (MAC)
- Crescent Arts Centre
- British Council
- Ulster Orchestra
- Arts & Business
- The Playhouse
- NI Opera
- The Void
- Craft NI
- Invest NI
- Creative and Cultural Skills
- Ofcom
- Thrive
- Future Screens
- Pixel Mill
- Cinemagic
- Belfast Film Festival
- Into Film
- Digital Film Archive