Arts Council Awards €1.35M Graphic Design, Branding, and Printing Contract to Morrow Communications

The Arts Council of Ireland has awarded a standalone contract for graphic design, branding, and printing services to Morrow Communications. The €1.35 million contract covers the full spectrum of graphic design, brand consultancy, and print management services for the Arts Council. The contract was awarded following an open procedure that attracted five tenders, with quality weighted at 75% of the evaluation.

Introduction

The Arts Council of Ireland, a public body responsible for supporting the arts in Ireland, has awarded a contract for graphic design, branding, and printing services to Morrow Communications. The contract covers a comprehensive range of services including graphic design, brand consultancy, and print management.

The contract, valued at €1,350,000, was awarded following an open procedure that attracted five tenders. The evaluation placed strong emphasis on quality (75% weighting), with cost accounting for 25%. The contract was concluded on 17 October 2023 and runs for an undisclosed duration.

Morrow Communications, an SME based in Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland, was awarded the contract. No subcontracting was declared.

Why This Contract Matters

This contract ensures that the Arts Council has access to high-quality graphic design, branding, and print services to support its communications and publications.

This contract matters because it:

• Supports arts promotion: Enables effective communication of Arts Council activities
• Significant value: €1,350,000 contract
• Comprehensive scope: Design, branding, and print management services
• Quality focus: 75% weighting on quality
• SME participation: Winner is an SME
• Strong competition: Five tenders received
• Strategic communication: Supports the Arts Council's public profile

Contract Timeline

• Contract concluded: 17 October 2023
• Contract duration: Not specified in notice
• Notice published: 27 August 2026 (OJ S 165/2026)

Contract Overview

The Arts Council conducted an open procedure under the standard regime, governed by EU Directive 2014/24/EU.

Key features include:

• Single lot: One contract covering all graphic design, branding, and printing services
• Estimated value: €1,350,000
• No framework agreement: Standalone contract
• Evaluation: Quality (75%), Cost (25%)
• Winner: Morrow Communications (SME)
• No subcontracting declared
• No EU funding
• Not covered by GPA

Key Contract Details

Detail	Information
Contracting authority	The Arts Council (Ireland)
Contract title	Standalone Contract Award Notice for provision of Graphic design, branding and printing service to the Arts Council 2023
Main CPV	79822500 Graphic design services
Procedure type	Open procedure (standard regime)
Legal basis	EU Directive 2014/24/EU
Estimated value (EUR)	€1,350,000.00
Number of lots	1
EU funding	None
Covered by GPA	No
Evaluation criteria	Quality (75%), Cost (25%)
Location	Dublin, Ireland (NUTS: IE061)
Subcontracting	No
Number of tenders	5 (all submitted electronically)

Scope of Services

The contract covers three main service areas:

1. Graphic Design

• Corporate identity and full stationery suite
• Company literature, annual reports, leaflets, guides
• Policy reports, publications, corporate materials and collateral
• Packaging, signage, print procurement, project management
• Art direction and design initiatives
• Social media and online output: still graphics, video graphics, banners

2. Brand Consultancy

• Strategy, positioning, architecture, naming and identity
• Brand acknowledgement requirements advice
• Logo guidelines and related requirements

3. Print Management

• Managing the full range of Arts Council's print requirements
• Ensuring documents and other collateral are provided to specification and on time

About the Contracting Authority

The Arts Council is the Irish government agency for developing the arts in Ireland. It is a body governed by public law, operating in the recreation, culture, and religion sector. The Arts Council provides funding, support, and advocacy for artists and arts organisations across Ireland.

About the Winning Supplier

Morrow Communications is an SME communications agency based in Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland. The company specialises in graphic design, branding, and communications services.

• Size: Micro, small, or medium enterprise
• Headquarters: Hanwood House, Pavilions Office Park, Kinnegar Drive, Holywood, Co. Down, BT18 9JQ
• Registration number: GB 422 2462 88
• Subcontracting: No

Evaluation Criteria

The contract was awarded based on two main criteria:

• Quality (75%): Quality of the proposed solution and service delivery
• Cost (25%): Overall cost of the services

Procurement Analysis

• Procedure: Open procedure under the standard regime, governed by EU Directive 2014/24/EU.
• Competition: Five tenders were received, all submitted electronically.
• SME participation: The winner, Morrow Communications, is an SME.
• Subcontracting: No subcontracting was declared.
• No EU funding: The procurement was not financed with EU funds.
• Not covered by GPA: The procurement is not covered by the GPA.
• No framework agreement: This is a standalone contract.
• No dynamic purchasing system used.
• Strategic procurement: No strategic objectives specified.
• Review body: The High Court of Ireland.

Additional Procurement Facts

• The contract is not covered by the GPA.
• No EU funds were used for this procurement.
• The contract is a standalone contract (not a framework agreement).
• Quality is heavily weighted at 75%.
• Cost accounts for 25% of the evaluation.
• The winner is an SME based in Northern Ireland.
• Five tenders were received.
• No subcontracting was declared.
• Review deadlines fall to The High Court of Ireland.

Market & Industry Perspective

The Irish public sector design and communications market is competitive, with agencies ranging from large international firms to local SMEs. The Arts Council, as a cultural institution, requires high-quality design services that reflect its brand and support its mission.

Key trends in this market include:

• Quality focus: Strong emphasis on creative quality and brand alignment
• Integrated services: Design, branding, and print management under one contract
• SME participation: SMEs compete effectively in creative services
• Digital output: Growing demand for social media graphics and video
• Public sector communications: Continued investment in public communications

Economic Significance

At €1.35 million, this contract represents a significant investment in creative services for the Arts Council. The contract will:

• Support arts promotion: Enable effective communication of Arts Council activities
• Enhance brand identity: Support the Arts Council's brand and public profile
• Support SME: Morrow Communications is an SME
• Create employment: Work for a creative agency
• Enable digital engagement: Social media and online output

Future Procurement Opportunities

With this contract now in place, future opportunities include:

• Re-tender: Expected after the contract period
• Related services: Additional creative and communications services
• Other public bodies: Similar design and branding tenders
• Digital services: Growing demand for digital content creation

Opportunities for Suppliers

While this contract is awarded, opportunities remain for creative agencies:

• Re-tender: Prepare for the next procurement cycle
• Other Irish public bodies: Similar creative services tenders
• Subcontracting: Potential subcontracting opportunities
• Digital services: Social media and video content creation

What Businesses Should Watch

• The Arts Council's future procurement notices
• Other Irish public sector creative services tenders
• Design and branding market trends
• Changes to Irish procurement regulations

IrelandTenders Procurement Intelligence

This graphic design and branding contract is a notable example of Irish public sector creative services procurement. Several features stand out:

• Scale: €1.35 million standalone contract
• Quality focus: 75% weighting on quality
• SME winner: Morrow Communications is an SME
• Integrated services: Design, branding, and print management
• Competition: Five tenders received
• Not GPA covered: Exempt from GPA

For suppliers, this procurement highlights the importance of:

• Quality demonstration: Quality accounts for 75% of evaluation
• Competitive pricing: Cost accounts for 25%
• Comprehensive services: Design, branding, and print management capability
• Public sector experience: Understanding public sector requirements
• SME status: SMEs can compete effectively

Supplier Takeaways

• Demonstrate high quality – 75% of evaluation is quality-based
• Offer competitive pricing – 25% weighting
• Show comprehensive design, branding, and print management capability
• Build public sector experience
• Monitor Irish public sector creative services opportunities
• Consider SME status as an advantage

Key Takeaways

• The Arts Council awarded a €1.35M graphic design contract to Morrow Communications
• Single lot covering graphic design, branding, and print management
• Evaluation: Quality (75%), Cost (25%)
• Five tenders received
• Winner is an SME from Northern Ireland
• No subcontracting declared
• Not covered by GPA

Conclusion

This graphic design, branding, and printing contract ensures that the Arts Council has access to high-quality creative services to support its communications and publications. By awarding the contract to Morrow Communications, the Arts Council secures a creative agency with comprehensive design and branding capabilities.

The 75% weighting on quality reflects the importance of creative excellence and brand alignment for a cultural institution like the Arts Council. The participation of five tenders demonstrates strong competition in the Irish creative services market, with SMEs competing effectively.

For suppliers, this procurement highlights the importance of quality, comprehensive service offerings, and public sector experience in winning Irish public sector creative services contracts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is The Arts Council?

Ans: The Irish government agency for developing the arts in Ireland, providing funding, support, and advocacy for artists and arts organisations.

Q: What is the value of the contract?

Ans: €1,350,000.

Q: Who is the winner?

Ans: Morrow Communications, an SME based in Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland.

Q: What services are covered?

Ans: Graphic design (corporate identity, publications, social media graphics, video graphics), brand consultancy (strategy, positioning, identity), and print management.

Q: What were the evaluation criteria?

Ans: Quality (75%) and Cost (25%).

Q: How many tenders were received?

Ans: Five tenders were received, all submitted electronically.

Q: Is this contract funded by the EU?

Ans: No, the procurement is not financed with EU funds.

Q: Is the contract covered by the GPA?

Ans: No.

Q: What is the review body?

Ans: The High Court of Ireland.

Source: EU Official Journal, Contract Award Notice 591155-2026, OJ S 165/2026, published 27 August 2026.