The Art Council Architecture Bursary Award in Ireland

The award emphasises the value and benefit to an architect’s development derived from an extended process of engagement with their design/creative practice at any stage of their career. The award prioritises giving architects the time and resources to think, research, reflect and engage with their practice. Potential proposals could be those that demonstrate:

• How the award will assist with the development of your design/creative practice
• How the award will assist with the re-evaluation of your design/creative practice after a continuous period of outcome-based and deadline-driven work
• How the award will assist with the development of your architectural ideas and concepts.

Funding Information

• Maximum awarded: €20,000
• Please note that your application will be deemed ineligible if you apply for more than the maximum.
• The award also allows for other costs intrinsic to supporting the development of the artist’s practice – e.g.
  • Appropriate fees for the time given by any mentors or collaborators working with you on the activity or activities for which you are seeking support.
  • Materials (up to a maximum of 15% of the total amount requested) or the hiring of services that are critical to the development of your artistic practice provided the request is clearly linked to the proposal for ‘buying time’.

Who can apply?

• The award is open to architects working in all genres and at all stages in their professional careers. To be eligible to apply, applicants must:
  • Be architects who have a qualification in architecture listed in EU Council directive 85/384/EEC, or outside Europe a qualification recognised by the relevant member section of the Union Internationale d’Architecture (UIA), and who have proven ability in the professional practice of architecture.
  • Be architecture graduates (i.e. architects who have completed a third-level degree in architecture but are not on the Register of Architects).
  • 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.

Who cannot apply?

• People who are 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
  • They cannot accept applications from those employed or contracted on a fulltime 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 Art Council.