Arts and Mental Health Partnership Programme

Arts and Mental Health Partnership Programme is sponsored by Arts Council of Northern Ireland (in partnership with The Baring Foundation). This programme aims to give creative opportunities for people living with mental health issues through engagement in high-quality arts.

Arts and Mental Health Partnership Programme | Arts Council NI All Funding for Organisations The programme aims to give creative opportunity for people living with mental health issues through engagement in high quality arts. The projects funded through the programme will be delivered to individuals living with a mental health condition.

This will be demonstrated in the application when the project description will state the target group the applicant organisation intends to work with throughout the project. To harness the expertise of artists around mental health to enhance the mental health of participants, enabling participants to express feelings and enhance their emotional, physical or social wellbeing through arts experiences.

It also aims to reduce stigma around mental health, support participants to seek help and to signpost to the relevant resources. To target people experiencing higher levels of disadvantage or exclusion, including more vulnerable groups such as those living with a mental health condition such as eating disorders or addiction or the broader challenges affecting individuals in today’s society.

The programme is aimed at constituted community and voluntary groups who are working at a local level to support people living with a mental health condition and can demonstrate strong partnership with relevant groups working in the field of mental health. This programme is also open to non-governmental organisations, Local Authorities and arts organisations who can clearly demonstrate partnership working.

Local Authorities must provide 25% match funding but can still apply for a maximum of £20,000. We are looking for partnership or consortia-based projects. Partnerships can be led by either mental health sector providers, arts organisations or Local Authorities, however the consortium must be made up of appropriate representatives and demonstrate a commitment to working together.

A single organisation must be the lead applicant, that is, the group in whose name the application is submitted, to whom the grant will be awarded and who will be accountable for delivering the project and reporting on it to ACNI. You must clearly identify in the application form the organisations you are partnering with and have a signed letter of agreement from them, see below mandatory enclosures.

Groups who are partner organisations in another Arts and Mental Health Partnership Programme application are eligible to apply.

That is, if your organisation is a named partner in a consortium application to the programme, you can submit a second application in your own organisation name, provided that the programme and activities are completely distinct from the consortium application you are named in, and that there are other partners.

Broadcasters (excluding community service broadcasters) Central Government Departments Organisations who are in breach of any previously issued ACNI award grant conditions How Much Can I Apply For? are available. You can apply for up to 100% of the eligible costs of the project.

Projects must be between 12 and 18 months in Commissions and productions Artists’ fees up to £35 per hour or a maximum of £150 per day for workshop-based activity Artists’/volunteers’/essential administrative travel expenses within Northern Ireland at 25.

7p per mile Excursions where relevant to the programme of activities Publicity and marketing costs Co-ordination costs (Which are not already part of an existing salary) Accessibility costs: – these are costs associated with the delivery of a project for people with particular needs as defined under Section 75 of The Northern Ireland Act 1998, e.g., sign language interpretation, Braille paperwork, transport costs, carer costs.

ACNI Arts and Mental Health Partnership Programme (362. 8 KB, PDF) Letter from Partner Organisation Template (16. 6 KB, DOCX) AMHPP IE Budget Template (12.

9 KB, XLSX) You must apply using our online system. We will not accept applications in hard copy or by email. Online applications may be edited, saved and returned up to the closing date.

You must submit all mandatory enclosures associated with the application at the same time as your application, i.e., they must be uploaded to your online application prior to its submission. These enclosures are listed on the Attachments page within the online application and are detailed within the Guidance Notes.

Please note, you will not be given additional time to submit any missing enclosures once the programme deadline has passed . Please ensure that you leave sufficient time to upload all documents to the system as there can be long delays as the closing deadline approaches and the system will shut down at 12 noon precisely on the closing date, Friday 27 June 2025 .

If your complete application is not fully uploaded when the system closes, your application will not be accepted. If you submit your application by the closing deadline, you will receive an automated email advising that your application has been successfully submitted to the system. If you do not receive this email, your application has not been submitted.

Please remember that it is your responsibility to ensure that we receive the application form and uploaded enclosures by the closing time and date. Informative video, recorded by Arts Council of Northern Ireland with British Sign Language added by University of Atypical.