Applications open as council seeks to support festivals and events in Waterford during 2025

Applications are now being sought for funding to support smaller festivals and events which are being planned for locations across Waterford next year.

The local authority says the application process for its Festivals & Events Grants Scheme 2025 is now open. The scheme aims to help support events across the city and county which help contribute towards making Waterford a more vibrant and sustainable place.

Following the success of some of last year’s festivals offering a more environmental and greener agenda, this year’s application, once again, has an emphasis on sustainability as the Local Authority looks to work with festivals and events on delivering Waterford’s goal of becoming Ireland’s first carbon neutral area.

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Festivals and events are encouraged to highlight a range of sustainability measures, such as the use of an innovative form of renewable energy through Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO), an outright ban on all single-use plastics and, where possible, the provision of onsite refill water stations.

For 2024 Waterford City and County Council approved the allocation of €1,653,557 in festival and event funding to aid the development and promotion of 71 festivals and events that have an economic, tourism, cultural/artistic or community benefit for Waterford.

Launching the application process for 2025, Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Jason Murphy said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for established, new and niche festivals to apply for funding. The breadth of talent and creativity in Waterford is phenomenal. While the mainstay festivals such as Spraoi, Harvest, Winterval and Waterford Festival of Food are woven into the fabric of Waterford's festival scene, new and emerging festivals and events are equally as exciting and refreshing."

In 2024 fourteen new and emerging festivals received grant funding, and Cllr Murphy hopes to see that number rise again in 2025.

Sean McKeown, Chief Executive of Waterford City and County Council, added: “Waterford City and County Council is committed to supporting local talent and fostering strong community spirit. That community spirit has been more than evident with festivals bookending the calendar, running from the very start of the year and concluding with Winterval in Waterford, which holds the prestigious title of European City of Christmas 2024."

Mr. McKeown says festivals "enliven the city and county" and that they help draw large numbers of visitors to Waterford and have a catalytic role in generating valuable spend in the local economy.

Applications for the 2025 scheme must be submitted online here. The closing date for applications is 4pm on Monday, November 4, 2024.