: Individual Professional Artists

Artists Support Scheme

Sligo Arts Service Department in partnership with The Arts Council

Full-time Professional Artists
Maximum Award: €1,200
Opens: April 2025
Closes: November 6th 2025

This funding stream offers full-time, independent professional (non-commercial) artists the opportunity to apply for funding of up to €1,200 to support professional development opportunities, a residency, travel to support the afore mentioned. It is also intended to support artists in the research, development, creation and/or presentation of a new body of work.

The scheme is designed to nurture and advance the practice of individual professional full-time artists & practitioners currently living in Sligo and is open to artists at all career stages working in all disciplines.

This is a rolling fund, while applications are invited year-round, there will be four assessments to allocate the funds, closing dates for which are as outlined below.

Closing Dates 2025

Thursday 22nd May at 4pm            
Thursday 10th July at 4pm
Thursday 11th September at 4pm
Thursday 6th November at 4pm

The total fund for 2025 will be circa €20,000

While there is no fixed number of awards, there will generally be a larger number of lesser value and a small number of maximum value ones. The quantity and value of awards will depend on available resources, number of applicants and the quality of applications.

What will be Funded:

Please refer to the Information Sheet (below) relating to this fund to gain an understanding of eligibility, how applications will be assessed and what costs are ineligible. 

Live Work Play Information sheet (PDF) - 305 kbs

Professional Development

Costs relating to improving your knowledge, skills or expertise - such as research, residencies, mentoring or short-term courses (including on-line courses); the opportunity to work with national or international artists with extensive track records and/or the opportunity to perform or exhibit nationally or internationally at venues with strong track records of presenting high quality professional art events.

The extent to which these activities are relevant to on-going and planned work, the quality of that work, and its importance to future audiences, is crucial and should be clear from your application.

Residencies:

Costs that would support an artist to take up a residency either here or abroad. A confirmed letter of offer outlining the details of the residency (including fees) must be supplied to support an application.

Development of new work:

To facilitate artists in the development or the completion of specific bodies or programmes of work. To support artists to sustain and develop their practice through the research, design, creation and presentation of events, performances, exhibitions, publications, and other artistic projects.

Travel:

Vouched costs associated with public transport / international travel and accommodation relevant to the application.

Applications will only be accepted via Sligo County Council’s online portal