Fingal Arts Office Residency and Studio opportunities in partnership with Draíocht, Ardgillan Castle, the RHA and the Loughshinny Boathouse
Fingal County Council Arts Department is offering four separate residencies and studio opportunities in the month of May. This year also marks the first year Fingal Arts Office is offering a two year long studio residency in partnership with the RHA and Ardgillan Castle.
Fingal County Council Arts Department is offering four separate residencies and studio opportunities in the month of May. This year also marks the first year Fingal Arts Office is offering a two year long studio residency in partnership with the RHA and Ardgillan Castle.
Each unique residency opportunity offered in partnership with Draíocht, Ardgillan Castle, the Royal Hibernian Academy and the Loughshinny Boathouse provide space and time for professional visual artists to focus on their practice.
These studio residency awards are all open for applications throughout the month of May.
Fingal County Council Arts Officer, Sarah O’Neill said, ‘We are pleased to announce the 2026 programme of residencies. Each of these spaces provide a unique environment for artists to expand their career and practice. This year we have extended two prestigious residencies to two years, with our partners at the RHA and Ardgillan.’
The RHA School studio award
The RHA School studio award 2026 is offering one professional artist with a funded studio space in the RHA for two years beginning at the end of October 2026. This prestigious award is open to professional practising artists at all career stages working in Visual Art. To be eligible, applicants must have been born, have studied or currently reside in the Fingal administrative area.
Recipient of the RHA School Studio Award 2025, Eilleen O’Sullivan speaks on her experience: ‘The studio has given me stability at a point in my career that I really need it. The space is so generous, bright and functional, it allows me to be experimental and work on multiple pieces at the same time very comfortably. I'm particularly grateful for the 24 hours access as well as the direct link with peers I've had through conversations at openings and studio visits, as well as the day to day chats. It has been a grounding point for me in a time of change. The residency has encouraged me to be ambitious in a new way. I am really grateful for the support of the RHA and Fingal County Council - it reinforces the value that art work matters.’
Applications for this residency have been extended until 15th May 2026 at 4:00pm.
Draíocht Studio Residency Award
The second award opening in May is the Draíocht Studio Residency Award 2026. Draíocht, Blanchardstown are offering a 4 month paid Studio Residency in Draíocht’s Artist Studio for the period September to December 2026.
This residency is receiving applications from Visual Artists from or based in Dublin 15 / Fingal. The purpose of the residency is primarily to provide time and space for an artist to develop their practice in a comfortable, practical and supportive environment. The purpose of the residency is primarily to provide time and space for an artist to develop their practice in a comfortable, practical and supportive environment.
Director of Draíocht, Emer McGowan commented: ‘Draiocht is delighted to work in partnership with Fingal Arts office to provide this important opportunity for a Fingal artist. We know very well the impact that this Studio Residency can have on an artist's practice and look forward to supporting the 2026 recipient.’
Applications for this award close Friday 8th May 2026.
Loughshinny Boathouse Studio Residency
Fingal Arts Offices own residency announces the return of the Loughshinny Boathouse Studio Residency award 2026. This award is open to professional visual artists working in any medium. This opportunity offers a 9-month paid residency in Loughshinny Boathouse from September 2026 - May 2027.
The aim of the award is to enable artist(s) to research and develop new work in response to Fingal’s coastal environment, focusing on biodiversity and climate change. This opportunity is unique among the residency as it aims to create a residency where artists engage with the community and raise awareness of Fingal’s natural environment.
Applications for this award are open to any professional artist but must respond to the biodiversity of Fingal’s coastline, in particular Loughshinny and surrounding areas of Rush and Skerries.
Applications for this award close Friday 15th May 2026.
Ardgillan Castle
The final award offered by Fingal Arts Office is in partnership with Ardgillan Castle offers a funded studio space to a professional Fingal artist for two years, commencing at the beginning of October 2026.
The award also offers an artist the chance to develop their practice in a supportive environment and includes the cost of studio rental and administration. The studio measures 5.7m x 4.7m and is on the first floor of the castle.
To be eligible to apply, applicants must: have been born, have studied, or currently reside in the Fingal administrative area. Open to professional artists at any stage of their career and working in any artform.
Recipient of the award in 2025, artist Maria Atanakovic, commented, ‘As an emerging artist, the residency has been incredibly impactful for my practice so far. The time and space to focus have allowed me to work with various mediums, giving me the freedom to test ideas, play, and experiment more freely than usual. This has opened up new directions in the work and shaped its development. The studio itself has been ideal, and the surrounding landscape at Ardgillan has provided an idyllic backdrop, it's such an inspiring place to work. I would like to thank Fingal Arts Office for their support, as well as Ardgillan Castle. It has been a valuable period of development that will continue to inform my practice.’
The closing date for applications has been extended to 29th May 2026 at 4:00PM.
For further information on each of these awards and how to apply, please see:
Artist Studios and Residencies | Fingal County Council
Residencies & Awards - RHA Gallery
