Arts Council of Ireland Grants: Supporting Visual Artists Across Ireland

The Arts Council of Ireland (An Chomhairle Ealaíon) is the national agency for funding, developing, and promoting the arts in Ireland, established by the Arts Act 1951 and operating under the Arts Act 2003. The Council distributes government funding to Irish artists and arts organisations through a range of grant programs that support creation, professional development, and the broader development of Ireland's arts ecology.

For visual artists based in Ireland or Irish artists living abroad, the Arts Council is the primary source of public arts funding, providing grants through several programs that support individual artistic practice, professional development, and the creation of new work. The Council's programs reflect a commitment to supporting the full diversity of Irish artistic practice, from traditional craft through contemporary installation and digital art.

The Visual Arts Bursary

The Visual Arts Bursary is the Arts Council's most substantial award for individual visual artists, providing significant funding to support sustained creative development over an extended period. The bursary is designed to give artists the time and financial security to develop ambitious new work or to undertake a significant period of research and experimentation.

The bursary is one of the most competitive awards in the Irish arts funding landscape, reflecting both the prestige of the award and the significant level of funding it provides. Artists who receive the Visual Arts Bursary are recognised as among the most accomplished and promising visual artists in Ireland, and the award carries significant professional recognition alongside the financial support it provides.

The application for the Visual Arts Bursary requires a comprehensive portfolio of recent work, a detailed artist statement, a clear description of the proposed activity, and evidence of professional practice. The assessment is conducted by a panel of arts professionals who evaluate applications on the basis of artistic quality, the ambition and clarity of the proposed activity, and the potential impact of the funding on the artist's practice.

The Project Award

The Project Award supports specific creative projects, providing funding for the creation of new work, the development of a specific body of work, or other defined creative activities. The Project Award is more accessible than the Visual Arts Bursary, with a lower funding level and a less demanding application process, making it a practical option for artists who are developing specific projects rather than seeking sustained bursary support.

The Project Award is available for a wide range of activities, including the creation of a specific body of new work, the development of a new technique or approach, the production of an exhibition or publication, and other defined creative activities. The flexibility of the award reflects the Arts Council's understanding that creative projects take many different forms and that the most valuable support is support that responds to the specific needs of each project.

The Travel and Training Award

The Travel and Training Award supports professional development activities that require travel or training, including residencies outside Ireland, participation in international workshops and conferences, and other professional development activities that advance the artist's practice. The award reflects the Arts Council's understanding that professional development is essential for sustained artistic development and that Irish artists benefit from engagement with the international arts community.

The Travel and Training Award is particularly valuable for artists who want to participate in international residencies or who want to develop specific skills through workshops or courses that are not available in Ireland. The award makes these opportunities accessible to artists who might not otherwise be able to afford the travel and accommodation costs involved.

The Irish Arts Context

Ireland has a rich and distinctive artistic tradition, with a strong tradition of painting, printmaking, and craft alongside a growing contemporary art sector. The Arts Council's support for visual artists reflects its understanding of the specific challenges and opportunities facing artists in Ireland, including the relatively small size of the local art market, the importance of international engagement for career development, and the specific cultural and historical context that shapes artistic practice in Ireland.

The Irish landscape has been a central subject for Irish artists throughout the history of Irish art, from the landscape painters of the nineteenth century through the contemporary artists who engage with the Irish environment in more experimental and conceptual ways. The Arts Council's support for landscape painting and other art forms that engage with the Irish environment reflects its understanding of the importance of this tradition to Irish cultural identity.

The Irish language is another important aspect of the Arts Council's work, with specific programs supporting artists who work in the Irish language or who engage with Irish language culture in their work. The Arts Council's commitment to Irish language arts reflects its understanding that the vitality of the Irish language is inseparable from the vitality of Irish culture more broadly.

The Application Process

Applications to the Arts Council are submitted through the Council's online grants management system, which provides a structured application process with clear guidance on what is required at each stage. The Council provides detailed guidance on the application process on its website, and its staff are available to provide advice and support to artists who are preparing applications.

The Arts Council encourages artists to contact them before submitting an application to discuss their proposal and to ensure that it meets the program's criteria. This pre-application support is particularly valuable for artists who are applying for Arts Council funding for the first time and who want to ensure that their application is as strong as possible.

The Bottom Line

The Arts Council of Ireland is the primary source of public arts funding for visual artists in Ireland, providing grants through the Visual Arts Bursary, Project Award, Travel and Training Award, and other programs that support the creation of new work, professional development, and the broader development of artistic practice. For Irish visual artists who want to develop their practice and access public funding for their work, the Arts Council is the most important and accessible funding body available.