The Upstart Awards 2026 support meaningful artistic collaborations involving people with disabilities, artists, and arts organisations in County Mayo, Ireland. Grants range from €500–€1800 and fund new, disability-inclusive arts projects, events, workshops, and performances. Applications are due 5pm, 16 January 2026, with strong focus on artistic quality, accessibility, collaboration, and community impact.

The Upstart Awards incentivise high-quality, disability-inclusive artistic collaborations across County Mayo. The scheme encourages new work, new art-forms, and creative engagement by people with disabilities as artists, participants, or audiences. Funding is intended to enrich the county’s arts landscape while promoting inclusion and creative opportunity.

What the Upstart Awards Support

The scheme funds projects that:

• Feature creative work by people with disabilities

• Build new collaborations between artists, venues, and disability groups

• Operate outside an organisation’s regular programme

• Explore new art-forms or develop new work

• Promote inclusive arts participation and accessible engagement

Examples of eligible proposals include:

• Events celebrating arts and disability

• Workshops led by trained, disability-inclusive artists

• Collaborative performances or creative projects

• Accessible mainstream arts events

• Exhibitions or projects by emerging artists with disabilities

• Closed events for specific disability groups

Grant Amounts

• Typical funding: €500–€1800

• Additional funding possible in exceptional cases, based on budget

• Awards do not cover total project costs

• Scheme encourages matched funding or in-kind contributions

Access Costs Support

Applicants may request support for:

• Access needs of artists with disabilities

• Public access supports: audio description, interpretation, captioning, etc.

Access costs rules:

• Must be documented in a separate access needs file

• Cannot exceed 20% of the total amount requested

• Access costs are considered separately from the main grant

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

• Venues involved in Mayo County Council’s Arts & Disability Programme

• Artists with professional experience in disability-inclusive practice

• Individuals with disabilities seeking to create or exhibit work

• Groups of people with disabilities collaborating with an artist or venue

• Emerging artists with disabilities

Eligibility is tied to County Mayo and projects must take place within an arts context.

Ineligible Projects

The Upstart Awards do not support:

• Projects that have already taken place

• Activities outside the arts (advocacy, occupational therapy, life-skills, wellbeing)

• Healthcare-based activity focused on health gains

• Projects outside County Mayo

• Projects already funded by Mayo County Council Arts Service

• Activities that are part of a regular ongoing arts programme

Why This Award Matters

This scheme strengthens arts participation by:

• Enabling creativity by people with disabilities

• Expanding inclusive artistic opportunities

• Encouraging innovative cross-sector partnerships

• Supporting projects linked to the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3 December)

• Promoting community engagement and representation within the arts sector

How to Apply (Step-by-Step)

1. Prepare Your Project Concept
Ensure the idea is new, disability-inclusive, and located within County Mayo.

2. Confirm Eligibility
Check that:

• The project is art-focused

• It has not yet taken place

• You or your organisation meet all eligibility requirements

3. Develop Budget + Access Cost Documents

• Main budget with matched funding or in-kind support

• Access needs document (max 20% of funding request)

4. Gather Supporting Documents

• Artist CVs

• Artist or organisational profiles

• Any relevant supporting material

5. Complete Application Form

• Must be in MS Word format

• Must be typed or written in block capitals (black biro) if typing isn’t possible

6. Submit by Email

• Email the application + supporting documents in MS Word or PDF only

• External file-sharing links will not be accepted

7. Deadline
Submit before 5pm, Friday, 16 January 2026.
Late applications are not accepted.

How Applications Are Assessed

An external expert panel evaluates submissions based on:

• Artistic quality

• Benefit to the applicant or community

• Depth of involvement of people with disabilities

• Strength of collaboration

• Evidence of matched resources

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting after the deadline

• Proposing a project already completed

• Projects taking place outside County Mayo

• Using external file-sharing platforms

• Forgetting the access needs document

• Assuming the award covers full project costs

• Submitting non-arts or therapeutic/advocacy-based activities

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Can I apply if my project is already underway?
No. Only projects that have not yet begun are eligible.

2. Can Upstart fund my entire project?
No. The scheme expects matched funding or in-kind support.

3. Are advocacy or wellbeing projects eligible?
No. Only arts-focused projects qualify.

4. Can I apply if I live outside County Mayo?
Yes, but the project itself must take place in County Mayo.

5. Can access costs exceed 20%?
No. They must remain within the 20% cap and be submitted separately.

6. Are group applications allowed?
Yes. Groups of people with disabilities may apply, especially when working with a venue or artist.

7. What formats are acceptable for submission?
MS Word or PDF only—no cloud drive or external links.

Conclusion

The Upstart Awards 2026 offer vital support for disability-inclusive arts projects in County Mayo. By encouraging collaboration, enabling new creative work, and funding accessible arts engagement, the scheme strengthens artistic diversity and community participation. Applicants should prepare high-quality, inclusive proposals and submit all materials before 5pm on 16 January 2026 to be considered.