Per Cent for Art Scheme

The Per Cent for Art scheme is a government initiative, first introduced in 1978, whereby 1% of the cost of any publicly funded capital, infrastructural and building development can be allocated to the commissioning of a work of art. Since 1997 this scheme has been made available to all capital projects across all government departments. 

Capital programmes where the Per Cent for Art applies include: - public housing projects, (social and affordable schemes); transport and roads; environmental schemes such as drainage schemes, pump stations and reservoirs;  public buildings such as libraries, public offices, schools, hospitals, medical centres, prisons, arts buildings - cinemas, theatres, art centre; conservation works carried out to public buildings and sites and, urban and village renewal schemes. Other government departments such as the HSE and the Department of Education and Science and agencies such as Udarás na Gaeltachta, OPW, Transport Infrastructure Ireland are actively commissioning artworks under this scheme.  

Securing funding under the Per Cent for Art Scheme

The Board of Directors of a new hospital, or school or public building project  must ensure that the Percent for Art budget has been included in the overall capital budget estimate for their new building.

The Board should secure confirmation from the relevant parent department that the Per Cent for Art scheme funding will be made available as part of their overall capital estimate.

The Per Cent for Art Scheme budget is ring-fenced i.e. it is only available for artworks and not for any other purpose such as an architectural improvement or design feature or landscaping, etc.  

The amount of the Per Cent for Art budget relates to the total capital construction cost, calculated in accordance with the limits noted below.

Budget limits (1 January 2020)

New limits and bands will apply from 1 January 2020. The new parameters investment bands and limits will be:

Projects below €5,000,000: 1% of the cost of the project to a maximum of €50,000 (1% of upper limit);

Projects between €5,000,000 and €20,000,000: 1% of the cost of the project to a maximum of €125,000 (1% at median);

Projects between €20,000,000 and €50,000,000: 1% of the cost of the project to a maximum of €350,000 (1% at median);

Projects in excess of €50,000,000:- up to €500,000 being 1% of the lower level scale and declining as projects increase in scale.