Deadline: 18-Jun-2026
The Arts Council Ireland has launched the Comedy Bursary Award – Round 2 to support professional comedy artists in developing and deepening their artistic practice through dedicated time, research, and creative exploration.
The programme provides funding for artists to reflect on, research, and strengthen their comedy practice while supporting long-term artistic development and practice-based inquiry in comedy.
Focus Areas
The bursary supports:
- Artistic development in comedy
- Creative exploration and research
- Practice-based inquiry
- Professional comedy practice
- Reflection and experimentation
- Sustained creative work
Funding Support
Applicants may request funding between:
- €5,000 and €20,000
Applications requesting:
- Less than €5,000
- More than €20,000
will be considered ineligible.
Artists with disabilities may also apply for additional disability access costs separate from the main funding request.
Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants include professional comedy artists who:
- Are actively pursuing a career in comedy
- Consider comedy their primary profession
- Are recognised by peers as professional arts practitioners
- Contribute to the arts sector in Ireland
- Maintain an active artistic practice
Applicants must not have:
- Applied for Bursary Round 1 2026
- Applied for the Agility Award 2026
Non-resident applicants may also apply if they clearly explain how the proposal benefits the arts in the Republic of Ireland.
Applicants may submit:
- Only one application per bursary round
- Only one bursary application in the same round
Assessment Process
Applications are reviewed through:
- Peer panel assessment
- External adjudicators with comedy and arts expertise
- Scoring and ranking processes
Applications are graded from:
- “Must Fund”
to - “Not a Priority”
The Arts Council Ireland notes that funding is highly competitive and assessments follow its Conflict of Interest Policy to ensure fairness.
How to Apply
Applicants should:
- Develop a proposal focused on artistic and creative development
- Explain how the bursary will support comedy practice
- Prepare a realistic funding request within the eligible range
- Demonstrate professional artistic engagement
- Submit only one eligible application for the round
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Requesting funding outside the allowed limits
- Submitting multiple bursary applications
- Applying after participating in Bursary Round 1 2026 or Agility Award 2026
- Providing unclear artistic development plans
- Failing to explain Irish arts sector benefits for non-resident applications
FAQ
- Who can apply for the Comedy Bursary Award?
- Professional comedy artists actively engaged in comedy practice may apply.
- How much funding is available?
- Applicants may request between €5,000 and €20,000.
- Can non-residents apply?
- Yes, if they demonstrate how the proposal benefits the arts in the Republic of Ireland.
- Can artists apply for multiple bursary awards in the same round?
- No, only one bursary application per round is allowed.
- Are disability support costs covered?
- Yes, additional disability access costs may be requested separately.
Conclusion
The Comedy Bursary Award – Round 2 supports professional comedy artists in the Republic of Ireland by providing funding for research, reflection, and creative development. The programme encourages sustained artistic exploration while strengthening comedy practice and professional growth within the Irish arts sector.
For more information, visit The Arts Council.