The term Arts Participation includes a range of participatory, collaborative, community and socially engaged arts practices that take place within and across all artform areas. It involve individuals and groups in the development, creation and / or presentation of artistic work. Participants are not arts professionals but are artistic co-creators, contributing to and influencing artistic content, outcomes and outputs.

The Arts Council has supported work in the area of Arts Participation since the 1980's through the provision of funding for individual artists, arts organisations, local authorities, arts centres, festivals and others working in this field; and through a range of research, development and policy initiatives.

We do not have a policy in the area of Arts Participation specifically, however related policies have been developed in areas such as Arts and Health (2010), Cultural Diversity and the Arts (2010), Arts & Disability (2012), Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (2019) and the Arts Council’s ten year strategy Making Great Art Work (2016 – 2025) prioritises the area of Public Engagement alongside Paying the Artist.

We are preparing a policy statement in the area of Arts Participation, which will be published early in 2025. In 2025 – 2026 we will review our policy approach in the area of Arts Participation with stakeholders in order to inform the development of new Arts Council Strategy (2026). As part of this review process we will also update our policies in the areas of Arts & Health, Arts & Disability, Arts and Cultural Diversity.

Further information

Information and updates will be available via the Arts Council website, newsletter and social media channels or please contact us directly at artsparticipation@artscouncil.ie