Bursary Awards 2026

Click here to download the full Bursary Award 2026 Guidelines

All applicants must live within the Dublin City Council Administrative Area. Click here for Map

This award is not for the creation and presentation of new work to the public. It is for an individual artist to pursue a work plan that may include training, mentoring, research and capacity building in 2026.

Bursary 2026 applications are welcome from applicants of all artistic backgrounds.

Maximum Bursary Award €5,000.00.

Bursaries may be in the following arts disciplines: Architecture and Visual Art, Circus, Street Art & Spectacle, Dance, Film, Literature, Multidisciplinary, Music and Opera, Theatre, Traditional Art, Young People and Children Artist Bursary .

1. Quality of existing work and Bursary proposal idea (40%)
   1. An introduction to your practice and description of your Bursary proposal 
   2. C.V. 
   3. Up to 6 examples of previous work
       
2. Relevance and Timeliness of proposal to the development of your practice (30%) 
   1. Recent achievements 
   2. Key points of development so far and future facing plans and vision 
   3. The reason you wish to pursue this line of action at this time and the impact you hope it will have  
       
3. Feasibility (30%) 
   1. Details of the quality of study/training course proposed with a letter of offer where appropriate 
   2. If you have an alternative approach to developing your practice outside of formal study, e.g. skills, action research, mentorship, you are encouraged to apply. You must however clearly outline the intended developmental impact on your practice  
   3. If you have proposed using a mentor please include C.V. and rationale for this person 
   4. Research method outline
   5. Work plan and clear budget in any artist fees in accordance with professional practice

Our team of Arts Officers offer information sessions ahead of the Arts Grants deadline each year. 

The aim of our information sessions is to provide help and guidance with all aspects of the online application process. The information session will be led by the Arts Officer Team. The session consists of a 25-minute walk-through of the application form, followed by 20 minutes of questions and answers.  

The Bursary Award information session took place on Wednesday 24 September at 12pm.  You can rewatch the information session by clicking the link below. 

https://vimeo.com/1121543673

No applications will be accepted later than the official deadline. 

Your application will be processed by members of the Arts Office Administrative team. Any applications that clearly fall outside the eligibility guidelines and criteria may be eliminated at this point. Dublin City Council reserves the right to redirect applications for consideration to appropriate categories other than those applied for, should it be deemed beneficial to the applicant to so do.  

All applications will be considered by the Arts Officer Team reporting to the City Arts Officer. Independent Assessors (with relevant experience and expertise) support the Art Officer Team who will make recommendations on all eligible applications.  

All applications will then assessed by a sub-committee of Elected Members of Dublin City Council from the Strategic Policy Committee. 

An external assessor reviews the application process before the applications are submitted to the Elected Members.  When approved by the sub-committee of Elected Members, final approval is sought from full meetings of the Elected Members of Dublin City Council.