National Mentoring Programme
In association with The Irish Writers Centre
The National Mentoring Programme is an opportunity for writers to receive sustained creative and professional mentoring from an established Irish writer of their choosing. Writers living in all 32 counties are eligible to apply through an Open Call.
Sligo Arts Service Department supports one such bursary to enable a Sligo based writer participate in the programme. Julianna Holland has now been selected as the 2025 recipient.
Julianna Holland is a writer working in Sligo. She is a graduate of Writing & Literature, and has a Masters in Creative Practice from ATU Sligo. She has been published in Banshee Literary Journal, The Bath Anthology, Scrimshaw Journal, and The Cormorant. Her first collection of poems, entitled Keshcorran, was published collaboratively with photographer Tommy Weir, in association with Tread Softly 2023. Julianna was the recipient of the inaugural Dermot Healy Writing Award in 2020 and was awarded The John McGahern Prize for Literature 2023.
“My ongoing work at a critical stage of its development, this mentorship award is most welcome and timely. I look forward to advancing my practice with the support of the Irish Writers Centre and my assigned mentor over the coming months.” (Quote from Julianna Holland)
Bealtaine Festival: Visual Art Open Call
As part of this years Bealtaine Festival Sligo, photographer Val Robus was selected through an Open Call and offered a solo exhibition at the Primary Care Unit, Markievicz House (main foyer space). The exhibition will run throughout 2025.
