The board is supported by a staff of 32, headed by a Director. The functions and membership of the Arts Council are governed by the Arts Acts of 1951 and 1973. Comes from the Exchequer and the National Lottery.
Smaller amounts come from other bodies for specific schemes or projects and a number of trust funds.
It grants funding through revenue grants, capital grants, project grants, awards and bursaries. The Arts Council distributes funds through recurring or revenue grants to organisations, capital grants, funding for schemes, and funding to individuals. The council currently provides funds to some 400 organisations. Individuals in receipt of funding The council currently provides funds to some 450 individuals. These individual artists are entitled to awards, bursaries and travel grants.