Irish Language Literature Bursary Award 2024 – Ireland

The award seeks to provide writers and picture-book artists with the time and resources to think, research, reflect, create and write. It enables writers and picture-book artists to concentrate on their creative work for a period of time, usually by releasing them from their financial commitments.

Definition of Literature

• For the purposes of this award, literature is defined by the Arts Council as:
  • Fiction
  • Poetry
  • Creative non-fiction
  • Graphic novels
  • Children’s fiction & poetry
  • Illustrated picture books
• This definition specifically excludes writing in areas such as screenwriting, journalism, history, religious writing, professional, instructional and academic writing, and proposals for literary translation. It also excludes illustration for advertising purposes or illustration for uses outside of book publication.

Funding Information

• Funding will be offered at fixed amounts. You should apply for one of the following amounts:
  • €20,000
  • €15,000
  • €10,000
• Your application will be deemed ineligible if you apply for more than the maximum (unless you are applying for additional access costs) or less than the minimum amount stated above.
• In addition, if you request an amount other than one of these bands, any offer that may be made will be rounded downward to the next lowest band (e.g. if you request €19,500, the maximum for any possible offer would be €15,000).

Who can apply?

• The award is open to professional writers or picture-book artists working in all genres and forms. To be eligible to apply, applicants must:
  • Make their applications through Irish. Applications for this award are assessed through the Irish language, and shortlisted applicants are considered by a panel of Irish-language writers and critics.
  • Be resident in the Republic of Ireland. However, they may accept applications from outside the Republic of Ireland. In this case, you must detail in your application form how your proposal would benefit the arts in the Republic of Ireland. They would need to be satisfied with your explanation.
  • Be professional practising artists. Although they might not earn income continuously or exclusively from their arts practice, applicants must identify themselves, and be recognised by their peers, as professional practising artists.

Who cannot apply?

• People not eligible to apply include the following:
  • Individuals currently in undergraduate education (including those undertaking foundation courses).
  • Individuals seeking support towards fees for postgraduate (including unaccredited)/higher education or study
  • Individuals seeking support towards work undertaken as part of a formal course of study
  • Individuals seeking support towards the costs of undertaking an internship
  • If you are in full-time employment, you must be seeking time away from employment to work on your practice, and how you plan to approach this should be outlined in your application. Otherwise, they cannot accept applications from those employed or contracted on a full-time basis by an arts organisation funded through Arts Council programmes or through direct state subsidy or by a commercial arts entity.
  • Aosdána members in receipt of a cnuas.

For more information, visit The Arts Council.