Longford County Council Arts Bursary Awards 2023 now open for applications

Local artists can apply for grants for the development of their practice

Longford County Council is delighted to announce that the Arts Bursary Awards 2023 is now open for applications. Artists can apply for a bursaries of up to €4,000 to help develop their practice.

The Arts Bursary Awards are designed to help artists of all disciplines to develop their artistic practice. The award is for work planned In the coming year, and which may include training, mentoring, research and building capacity. To help develop the arts sector in County Longford, applications from emerging artists will be prioritised.   

This project is funded by Longford County Council and administered though the Council’s Arts Office.

Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Turlough McGovern elaborated on the Bursary and what it means for County Longford. “This Arts Bursary Award really helps the development of the arts sector here in County Longford by directly supporting artists in their work. The Council is fully behind supporting local artists as they add so much to the fabric and vibrancy of our communities. I encourage everyone thinking of applying to do so and I look forward to seeing the work of the successful applicants in the future.”

Longford County Council Chief Executive Paddy Mahon also commended the importance of the Bursary. “Longford County Council is delighted to support our artists in Longford through the Bursary Awards. We look forward to seeing the successful artists developing their skills and ultimately realising their creative potential.”

Previous Arts Bursary recipient Helen Keenan, a dance and multidisciplinary artist living in Ballinamuck shared her experiences and encouraged others to apply. “This Bursary was a fantastic aid in helping me to bridge the gap between professional dance education and entering the arts world as a professional dance artist for the first time. It allowed me to spend time working on my practice, experimenting with new approaches and technologies. It enabled me to collaborate remotely with a Berlin-based expert to further enhance my work. Gaining the support of Longford County Council helped me to also start building my track record as a professional artist, and lay a strong foundation for securing future opportunities, funding and partnerships. The Bursary was a catalyst for the recent growth of my arts practice, and the beginnings of strong partnerships that continue to benefit my practice today. I encourage all practising artists in County Longford to apply for the Arts Bursary Award 2023.”

Applications are online via the Arts section of Longfordcoco.ie. Eligibility criteria and terms and conditions apply. Closes for applications on 5pm on Thursday, 23 March.