Deadline: 18-Jun-2026
The Arts Council Ireland is inviting applications for the Children and Young People’s Arts Bursary Award – Round 2 to support individual artists in Ireland working in the field of children and young people’s arts.
The bursary helps artists strengthen their artistic practice through research, reflection, creative exploration, and practice-based inquiry related to work with children and young people.
Focus Areas
The award supports:
- Artistic development
- Research and reflection
- Practice-based inquiry
- Creative exploration
- Arts practice involving children and young people
- Professional artistic growth
The programme aims to provide artists with dedicated time and resources to deepen their creative practice.
Funding Support
Applicants may request:
- Between €5,000 and €20,000
Applications outside this range are considered ineligible.
Artists with disabilities may also request:
- Additional personal disability access costs separate from the main funding amount
Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- Individual professional artists
- Individual arts practitioners actively engaged in professional practice
Applicants must:
- Have work recognised by peers
- Contribute to the development of the arts
- Apply as individuals only
The following are not eligible:
- Groups
- Organisations
Applicants must also comply with Arts Council bursary rules, including restrictions on:
- Applying to multiple bursary rounds
- Applying to certain other Arts Council awards in the same year
Assessment Process
Applications are assessed by Arts Council Ireland based on:
- Eligibility
- Artistic merit
- Quality of the proposal
- Relevance to artistic development
The process is designed to be fair and transparent.
Applicants receive:
- An immediate confirmation email after submission
- An application number shortly after
Funding decisions are generally communicated within:
- 12 to 15 weeks
How to Apply
Applicants should:
- Develop a proposal focused on artistic development or research
- Explain the relevance of the work to children and young people’s arts
- Prepare a funding request within the eligible range
- Submit an individual application following Arts Council guidelines
Applicants should contact the Arts Council if confirmation emails or application numbers are not received after submission.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Submitting group or organisational applications
- Requesting funding outside the eligible range
- Applying to multiple restricted bursary programmes
- Providing unclear artistic development plans
- Missing application requirements
FAQ
- Who can apply for the bursary?
- Individual professional artists and arts practitioners working in children and young people’s arts.
- How much funding is available?
- Applicants may request between €5,000 and €20,000.
- Are groups or organisations eligible?
- No, only individual applicants are eligible.
- Can disability access costs be included?
- Yes, additional disability access costs may be requested separately.
- When are funding decisions announced?
- Decisions are generally communicated within 12 to 15 weeks.
Conclusion
The Children and Young People’s Arts Bursary Award – Round 2 supports artists in Ireland by providing funding for artistic development, research, and creative reflection related to children and young people’s arts practice. The programme encourages sustained artistic growth and deeper engagement within this important area of the arts sector.
For more information, visit The Arts Council.