RFAs: Traditional Arts Bursary Award (Ireland)

Objectives

• The objectives of the Traditional Arts Bursary Award is to support the professional development of practicing artists by enabling them to do one or more of the following:
  • Spend focused time working at their practice
  • Spend time researching/thinking about/developing a new idea for future dissemination
  • Spend time developing their technical skills in a particular area
  • Spend time developing/learning new skills related to their practice or area of interest
  • Spend time working with a mentor, or collaborator(s) to develop an idea, or to assist in developing or up skilling within a particular area of their practice, or an area related to their practice
  • Spend time developing an idea in collaboration with a potential production partner(s)
  • Undertake a short period of training by way of master classes or other professional training opportunities (whether national or international)
  • Purchase a limited amount of equipment and materials to assist with the development of their practice
  • Spend time undertaking a combination of the above activities.

Funding Information

• The maximum amount that may be awarded to each successful applicant is: €20,000
• The minimum amount that can be applied for is: €5,000.

Eligible Activities

• The award emphasizes the value and benefit to an artist’s development derived from an extended process of engagement with their practice. The award therefore provides artists with the time and resources to think, research, reflect and engage with their art practice. Potential proposals could be those that support the applicant to:
  • Compose a piece of work in the tradition or in collaboration with musicians in other genres
  • Choreograph a piece of dance within the tradition or in collaboration with dance artists in other genres
  • Explore traditional style and repertoire in the fields of music, song, dance or storytelling, including informal mentorship programmes with established individuals or masters in these areas
  • Develop a body of work from the tradition and/or in collaboration with other art forms.

Eligibility Criteria

• The award is open to professional artists working in all genres and at all stages in their professional careers. To be eligible to apply, applicants must:
  • 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.
  • Be professional practicing 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 practicing artists.

Ineligibility Criteria

• 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
  • Aosdána members in receipt of a Cnuas.

For more information, visit The Arts Council.