Deadline: 28-Nov-2025
The Golden Fleece Award is the largest prize open to both artists and makers in Ireland to provide resources for practising contemporary visual artists and makers to innovate and develop their artistic vision.
For the 2026 cycle, the Award fund totals approximately €30,000. Two primary Awards of €10,000 each will be presented—one for Visual Art and one for Craft + Applied Art.
The Golden Fleece Award is open to craft and visual artists living and working on the island of Ireland as well as Irish-born artists working overseas. The Award welcomes practising craft and visual artists at any career stage who can demonstrate artistic merit, expertise, and the vision to advance their work to a new level.
Applications may only be submitted once per Award cycle, and full-time students are generally not eligible. The Award supports all forms of visual, craft, and applied art, including makers who use new technologies to enhance creative processes. While winners of the main Golden Fleece Award cannot reapply, previous entrants and recipients of Commendation, Merit, or Special Awards may do so.
Applications will be assessed based on artistic merit and expertise, demonstrated through six images of work produced within the past two years. Applicants may include up to three moving-image or audio works, clearly identifying any outsourced elements. They must also provide a written statement describing their artistic vision or plans for creative advancement, a clear explanation of financial need, and a detailed budget breakdown outlining how the Award would support their development over one to two years.
Entries must be submitted online through the Golden Fleece Award application form. Images must be in JPEG format, not exceeding 5 MB each. Up to three URLs linking to hosted video or audio works may also be submitted. Shortlisted applicants consent to the use of their submitted materials for promotional purposes by the Award Trustees. Applicants are reminded not to list current Advisory Panel members as referees. There is no application fee, and all decisions made by the Trustees are final.
The deadline for the 2026 Golden Fleece Award is 5pm on Friday, 28 November 2025.
For more information, visit Golden Fleece Award.
