The Arts Council is to invest €46 million this year in 105 key arts organisations across Ireland, it has announced, including the Abbey Theatre, in Dublin, the Irish Chamber Orchestra, in Limerick, Macnas, in Galway, Cork Midsummer Festival, Spraoi, in Waterford, and Teac Damsa, in Kerry. The council unveiled its key strategic-funding scheme, for the biggest arts organisations, from its largest ever exchequer grant, of €130 million.

The government agency for funding and developing the arts has generally awarded about 20 per cent more across art forms, with each organisation getting at least what it received last year and some getting significantly more, according to the council’s director, Maureen Kennelly.

It is focusing in particular on investing in circus, street theatre and spectacle, which need further investment, she said in a video briefing on Thursday. Spraoi will receive €385,000, Galway Community Circus will receive just under €176,000, and Macnas will receive €315,000. Under its plan to invest more in festivals, too, Cork Midsummer Festival will receive €350,000 and Carlow Arts Festival will receive €255,000, among other organisations to benefit.

A further €7.8 million will fund 43 arts centres around Ireland, from An Grianán, in Co Donegal, and Garage Theatre, in Monaghan, to Dunamaise Arts Centre, in Laois, Glór, in Ennis, and West Cork Arts Centre, in Skibbereen…

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