Arts Participation Bursary Award 2025 – Arts Council

The Arts Council’s Arts Participation Bursary Award supports individual professional artists working in any artform to develop their arts participation practice, including collaborative, community and socially engaged arts practices.

The primary focus is on the artist and the exploration and development of the applicant’s own individual artistic practice. You can include participatory and collaborative arts elements in your proposal. However, delivering a project is not the focus of the Bursary Award.

The maximum awarded is €20,000.

Who is this award for? 
The award is for individual professional artists who:

• Have a track record of working collaboratively with individuals and groups that are not arts professionals, in the making and interpreting of artwork
• Work in any of the following contexts: health, disability, cultural diversity, creative ageing, community development, other communities of place and/or interest
• Demonstrate clear artistic vision and commitment to artistic outcomes in their work, alongside any other goals (e.g. inclusion, wellbeing, community development)
• Ensure quality of engagement in their work (e.g. in the development, planning, making, presentation and evaluation of work).

You can use this bursary to spend time:

• Working at your practice, including critical reflection and evaluation.
• Researching, thinking about or developing a new idea for future dissemination. This may include working with a mentor, potential partners, other artists or arts professionals.
• Developing or learning new skills related to your practice.
• Undertake a short period of training such as master classes or other professional training opportunities (whether national or international).
• Purchase a limited amount of equipment and materials to assist with the development of your practice. Note: This can be no more than 15% of the value of the overall request for support.
• Do a combination of any of the activities above.

Closing Date
13 February 2025

Queries 
If you have a query about the award or require support submitting your application, please contact amy.delamere@artscouncil.ie or call 087 295 1562.

Access Supports
If you have a disability and would like help applying, contact the Access Officer as early as possible before the deadline: access@artscouncil.ie or phone 01 618 0200 / 01 618 0243.

You will be able to apply for additional costs if you have access needs relating to your application.

Guidelines and Application Process
https://www.artscouncil.ie/Funds/Arts-participation-bursary-award/