The Arts Service offers funding awards and grants to professional, emerging and amateur artists from or living in Co. Kildare, on an annual basis. Arts collectives and community groups participating in arts activity can also apply for grant aid. A large suite of grants are advertised in December each year. The closing date for most grant applications each year is the end of February although some grants are opened at other times during the year. The grants are adjudicated by an external panel. The Arts Service team provide background information relating to the applications to the adjudication panel.
Kildare Arts Service facilitates a number of 'Applying for Grants' info sessions in early January. Click on each of the grants below for more information.
See grants awarded in previous years here: 2025 Awardees , 2024 Awardees
Below is a summary of our grants, bursaries and awards. Full details of grants including application requirements, and eligibility criteria will be given via live call outs on our online grants application portal. Check here to see what grants are currently open for applications.
Arts Act Grant
The Arts Act Grant aims to provide financial assistance to individual artists, art groups and community projects engaged in arts practice or the delivery of projects or events. Applications can be made for awards of up to €2,500.
Arts in Education Residency Award
The Arts in Education Residency Award supports primary and post-primary schools in County Kildare to work with a professional artist to enhance their Arts Education programme. Applications can be made for awards of up to €2,500 to support artists’ fees.
Arts, Health & Wellbeing Award
The Arts, Health & Wellbeing Award supports artists and arts collectives working across all artforms. Funding of up to €4,000 is available to support the development, creation or presentation of new work that promotes public engagement with the arts, particularly among communities who may have limited access. This programme is supported by the HSE.
Artistic Entrepreneur Bursary Award
This bursary, delivered in partnership with the Local Enterprise Office, supports artists in developing the business and entrepreneurial aspects of their practice, including sustainability, marketing and audience development.
Culture Night Commission Award
The Culture Night Commission Award supports the creation of new, ambitious and public-facing work for Culture Night / Oíche Chultúir. Funding of up to €4000 available.
Dennis O’Driscoll Literary Bursary Awards
The Dennis O’Driscoll Literary Bursary Awards support both emerging (€1500) and established writers (€2000) in developing new work and advancing their literary practice.
Drama League of Ireland Summer School Bursary Award
This bursary funds participation in the Drama League of Ireland Summer School, offering opportunities for learning, skills development and networking in theatre practice. This award has an earlier deadline with a closing date for applications in mid January.
Emerging Artist Solo Exhibition Award
Delivered in partnership with Riverbank Arts Centre, this award supports an early-career visual artist to develop and present a solo exhibition in a professional gallery setting. Awardees are offered a bursary of €3000, €500 of which is to go towards documentation of the exhibition either through commissioning of a text or photography. Awardees are also offered technical installation support and guidance.
Executive Coaching for Creative Professionals Bursary Award
This bursary offers artists and creative practitioners the opportunity to engage in professional coaching to support career development, leadership skills and long-term planning.
First Fortnight Award
Delivered in partnership with the First Fortnight Festival, this award supports artistic projects that engage with themes of mental health and wellbeing through creative practice. Funding of up to €4000 available.
Local Publishing Award
The Local Publishing Award (€900) assists with the costs associated with the development and publication of new written work of local interest.
Platform 4 Recording Studio Bursary Award
This bursary provides access to recording facilities and the support of a sound engineer at Platform 4, enabling artists to develop high-quality audio work.
Research and Thinking Bursary Award
The Research and Thinking Bursary supports artists to undertake research, reflection or early-stage conceptual development, providing time and space to explore ideas without the pressure of producing finished work. This includes a bursary of €1700, plus €500 towards mentoring sessions with a mentor of the artist's choosing, 2 sessions with executive coach Matthew Ralli and 1 mentoring session with the Arts Service.
Short Grass Film Bursary
The Short Grass Film Bursary supports filmmakers from or living in County Kildare across all genres. It provides funding to support the development of film practice or the progression of an original project. Bursaries of €1500 available.
Short Grass Film Commission
The Short Grass Film Commission supports the production of original film work to be shot in County Kildare. It encourages ambitious projects and supports filmmakers at all stages of their careers. Commission award of €14000.
Tyrone Guthrie Centre Residency Bursary Award
This bursary supports artists to undertake a residency at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, providing time, space and resources to focus on their creative practice.
Youth Arts Residency Bursary Award
The Youth Arts Residency Bursary supports artists and organisations to deliver participatory arts projects with children and young people across County Kildare.
Amplify Artist Practice Bursary Award
The Amplify Artist Practice Bursary (€5000) supports artists to develop and strengthen their professional practice. It provides focused support for areas such as research, skills development, mentoring, and the expansion of artistic work, enabling artists to deepen their practice and build sustainable careers.