Ireland Visual Arts Bursary 2027: Up to €20,000 for Artists — Applications Open 10 November
The Arts Council of Ireland / An Chomhairle Ealaíon has announced a Visual Arts Bursary Award for Round 1 of 2027, offering individual artists up to €20,000 to develop their practice. This is an arts-development bursary rather than a prize for submitting one finished image. Practitioners using photography, moving image and experimental digital methods should check whether their particular research and professional development goals fall within the Visual Arts team's remit.
Funding and timing: opening soon
The official application schedule shows Tuesday 10 November 2026 as opening day and Thursday 17 December 2026 at 5:30pm Irish time as the closing time. The maximum is €20,000 and the advertised applicant type is individual artist. As of 19 October, this programme is marked 'Opening soon', not accepting submissions yet. The Council advises downloading the 2027 guidelines and templates when released, usually about two weeks before the scheme opens.
What does the bursary support?
The Arts Council describes the Bursary Award as time and resources to think, research, reflect and develop a professional artistic practice. Rather than a general equipment rebate or a payment for any photographer's new portfolio, proposals should make an artistic case for professional development. Visual artists working in digital or lens-based formats should check the forthcoming Visual Arts Bursary guidelines for supported costs and any technology- or exhibition-related restrictions.
Residency and eligibility cautions
This is an Ireland-focused public arts programme. Published eligibility rules for earlier visual-arts bursary rounds have allowed the Council to assess limited non-resident applications where a credible benefit to Irish arts was demonstrated. Until the 2027 conditions are released, do not assume the scheme is strictly for Irish passport holders, nor that a person resident elsewhere has an unconditional right to apply. We have therefore not classified this as a verified residence-only opportunity.
Information clinic on 18 November
The Visual Arts team is holding an online information clinic on Wednesday 18 November 2026 at 11am. Its focus is the 2027 Round 1 application, including what the scheme supports and how to submit. Artists who are uncertain about the differences between a personal development bursary and other project funds should consult the published clinic information.
National funder and previous practice
The Arts Council is the national agency for developing the arts in the Republic of Ireland. Its public Visual Arts area documents support for artists working with moving images, photography and installation, including Fiona Mc Donald's digital prints and Amanda Rice's moving-image practice. The agency operates its own online application service and publishes awards information, supporting materials, contacts and funding decisions; the formal requirements can be verified on its institutional website.
Official process and safe submission
Use the Arts Council's Visual Arts Bursary Award Round 1 page rather than an unrelated image competition platform. Register on its authorised Online Services system and confirm the grant deadline, draft 2027 guidelines, supporting visual work samples and consent obligations. The awards@artscouncil.ie contact on the page can clarify eligibility. No funding decision or amount is assured simply because an applicant submits a proposal.
This article provides a summary. To avoid misunderstandings, please be sure to check the official page for full details.
Information verified on 19 October 2026; opening date 10 November, pending 2027 year-specific guidance.
Our competitions
The separately organised Aion Digital Art Award has its own rules and is not connected with this Arts Council grant.
Publish an opportunity
We offer paid publication for art, photo, design and media opportunities.