Exploring and Thinking: Early Childhood Arts Residency Awards 2026/27 (Ireland)

The Dublin Region Early Childhood Arts Residency 2026 offers five residency awards of up to €13,000 each to artists who will deliver creative arts experiences for children aged 0–5 years experiencing homelessness. The initiative is delivered through a partnership between the Dublin region Local Authorities and Children and Young People’s Services Committees (CYPSC) to promote inclusive, high-quality early childhood arts practice.

Artists from all artistic disciplines are invited to collaborate with other artists or creative practitioners to design and deliver ethical, evidence-informed arts activities within homeless accommodation services across Dublin.

What Is the Early Childhood Arts Residency?

The Early Childhood Arts Residency is a funded artist residency programme that supports creative engagement for young children living in homelessness across the Dublin region.

The residency enables professional artists to research, develop, and deliver creative experiences that encourage learning, participation, wellbeing, and artistic exploration for children aged 0–5 years and their adult caregivers.

The programme also promotes collaboration between artists, early childhood services, and homelessness support organisations.

Why This Residency Matters

Children experiencing homelessness often face limited access to creative and cultural opportunities during their early developmental years.

This residency aims to:

• Increase access to high-quality arts experiences
• Support children’s creativity and wellbeing
• Promote inclusion and equal participation
• Encourage innovation in early childhood arts practice
• Strengthen partnerships between artists and community services
• Build sustainable and evidence-informed creative programmes

By bringing professional artists into homeless accommodation settings, the programme helps create meaningful experiences for children during a critical stage of development.

Objectives of the Residency

The programme seeks to:

• Support meaningful arts engagement for children aged 0–5
• Improve access to creative opportunities for children experiencing homelessness
• Encourage collaboration among artists and creative practitioners
• Promote inclusive early childhood arts practice
• Foster ethical and sustainable creative engagement
• Strengthen partnerships between artists and support services
• Support research and innovation in early years arts

Residency Locations

One residency award will be offered in each of the following local authority areas:

• Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County
• Dublin City North
• Dublin City South
• South Dublin
• Fingal

Each selected artist will work with an assigned homeless accommodation service within one of these locations.

Funding Available

Each residency provides funding of up to:

• €13,000

The funding supports the complete delivery of the residency programme.

What Does the Funding Cover?

The residency budget may be used for:

• Research and development activities
• Design and delivery of creative sessions
• Artist fees
• Fees for collaborating artists or creative practitioners
• Project materials and resources
• Participation in peer learning sessions

The funding enables artists to plan, develop, and implement high-quality creative experiences throughout the residency.

Residency Activities

Selected artists will undertake several stages during the residency.

Research and Development

Artists will begin by researching the needs of participating children and developing creative approaches suited to early childhood settings.

Research and development activities are expected to begin by November 2026.

Creative Programme Delivery

Artists will deliver creative arts experiences for:

• Children aged 0–5 years
• Adult caregivers

Activities will take place within the assigned homeless accommodation service.

Minimum Engagement Requirement

Each residency must include:

• At least 10 artistic engagements

These activities should be completed by June 2027.

Peer Learning

Artists will participate in:

• Three peer learning sessions

These sessions encourage collaboration, reflection, and the sharing of best practices among residency participants.

Who Can Apply?

The programme is open to professional artists from all artistic disciplines.

Eligible Applicants

Applicants must:

• Be professional artists
• Propose collaboration with one or more artists or creative practitioners
• Deliver collaborative work throughout the residency or during a specific stage of the project

Individual Artists

Individual artists may apply if they:

• Include named collaborators in their proposal
• Demonstrate how collaboration will strengthen the residency

Artistic Disciplines

Applications are welcome from artists working in any art form, including:

• Visual arts
• Music
• Theatre
• Dance
• Literature
• Storytelling
• Film
• Multimedia arts
• Interdisciplinary practice
• Other creative disciplines

Preferred Experience

Applications are encouraged from artists with experience working with:

• Early years children
• Children experiencing disadvantage
• Community arts programmes
• Inclusive arts practice

Experience in early childhood settings will strengthen an application but artists from all disciplines are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Applicants should follow these steps:

Step 1: Develop a Residency Proposal

Prepare a proposal explaining:

• Artistic approach
• Creative activities
• Research methodology
• Collaboration plan
• Expected outcomes

Step 2: Identify Collaborators

Include information about:

• Collaborating artists
• Creative practitioners
• Their roles during the residency

Named collaborators should complement the proposed creative programme.

Step 3: Prepare the Budget

Develop a detailed budget covering:

• Artist fees
• Collaborator fees
• Research
• Project resources
• Delivery costs

The total budget should not exceed €13,000.

Step 4: Demonstrate Relevant Experience

Applicants should provide evidence of:

• Artistic practice
• Community engagement
• Early childhood work (where applicable)
• Collaborative projects
• Creative facilitation experience

Step 5: Submit the Application

Complete and submit all required application materials before the published deadline.

Benefits of the Residency

Selected artists will have the opportunity to:

• Develop early childhood arts practice
• Collaborate with creative professionals
• Build partnerships with community organisations
• Expand socially engaged artistic practice
• Participate in peer learning
• Create meaningful experiences for young children
• Contribute to inclusive arts development across Dublin

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants can strengthen their proposals by:

• Presenting child-centred creative activities
• Demonstrating collaborative working methods
• Showing understanding of early childhood development
• Explaining how participation will be inclusive
• Developing realistic timelines
• Providing a clear budget
• Highlighting previous community arts experience

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Submitting proposals without named collaborators
• Providing unclear activity plans
• Ignoring the needs of children aged 0–5
• Presenting unrealistic budgets
• Failing to explain collaborative approaches
• Omitting research and development activities
• Submitting incomplete applications

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Early Childhood Arts Residency?

The residency funds artists to develop and deliver creative arts programmes for children aged 0–5 experiencing homelessness across the Dublin region.

How much funding is available?

Each residency provides funding of up to €13,000.

Where will the residencies take place?

Residencies will be delivered in homeless accommodation services within:

• Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County
• Dublin City North
• Dublin City South
• South Dublin
• Fingal

Who can apply?

Professional artists from all artistic disciplines may apply if they collaborate with other artists or creative practitioners during the residency.

How many artistic engagements are required?

Each residency must deliver a minimum of 10 artistic engagements by June 2027.

When does the residency begin?

Research and development activities are expected to begin by November 2026.

What does the funding cover?

The funding supports research, programme development, artist and collaborator fees, project resources, delivery costs, and participation in three peer learning sessions.

Conclusion

The Early Childhood Arts Residency 2026 offers artists an opportunity to use creative practice to support young children experiencing homelessness while strengthening inclusive early childhood arts across the Dublin region.

With funding of up to €13,000 per residency, the programme encourages collaboration, innovation, and meaningful engagement, helping artists create lasting creative experiences that promote wellbeing, participation, and positive early childhood development for children and their caregivers.