Funding and Development PLATFORM 31 – Thirty One Mid Career Artist Bursaries from Local Authorities Nationwide

A national opportunity for artists to develop their practice and test new ideas of collaboration, research, audience development, place-making, and sharing their work.

The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. David Healy said: “Fingal County Council has a long history of supporting artists across Fingal and this new support, working alongside the Arts Council, Platform 31, will offer artists financial and developmental assistance. It is wonderful to see the collaboration between Fingal County Council and the Arts Council in helping artists all around Ireland during this difficult period for the arts sector. Not only will this provide financial support but developmental and networking support with artists all over Ireland.”

Designed to support and offer career development for 31 mid-career artists (one artist in each of the 31 local authorities around Ireland), there are two elements of support for participating artists in the scheme: financial and developmental. Participating artists will receive an €8,000 bursary to invest in themselves and their practice, combined with participation in an advisory and developmental framework and a peer network.

The award is open to artists of any discipline and practice, based in Ireland, as well as multi-disciplinary practice and design of all kinds.

It is designed to support mid-career artists who must have been in receipt of support/investment from a Local Authority Arts Office or the Arts Council within the last three years.

For over 35 years, Local Authority Arts Offices have worked directly with artists to ensure the arts thrive in all communities.  Working in a grassroots and foundational way has allowed Arts Officers to identify and respond to the needs of artists, keeping the arts and cultural agenda focussed and relevant in changing environments.

“We are delighted to collaborate with the Arts Council to inform and lead new ways of working in partnership towards development in the arts in Fingal”, said Rory O’Byrne, Fingal County Council Arts Officer. “At the heart of all of this are artists, the writers, musicians, actors, performers, dancers and filmmakers. We envision this pilot scheme as a platform for these creatives to value their time, to showcase their work and their collaborations, sharing their learnings locally and nationally as a legacy of the project.” 

“The bursary seeks to provide artists with the time and resources to think, test new ideas, research new approaches and to reflect and engage with their artistic practice”, said Maureen Kennelly, Arts Council Director. “The Arts Council is delighted to partner with local authorities, who are responding thoughtfully and ambitiously to the challenging environment for artists. The carefully considered support network built into Platform 31 sets this bursary scheme apart.”

The scheme will establish a peer networking framework for participating artists, introducing them to a pool of critical thinkers to share their work and learnings, and encouraging a national conversation about creating work in local contexts. The exact nature of this artist support framework will be informed by the proposals and interests of the 31 artists selected.

Application deadline: Monday 30th November at 17.00 (5pm).
Application guidelines and procedure: platform31.localartsireland.ie/

Link to Guidelines: https://platform31.localartsireland.ie/about-platform-31