Kildare County Council Arts Service Launches 2026 Creative & Arts Grants and Bursary Awards
Kildare County Council’s Arts Service is delighted to announce the opening of applications for its 2026 suite of Creative and Arts Grants and Bursary Awards. With 15 separate grants, commissions and bursaries available, these opportunities are designed to support artists, creatives, arts collectives, community groups and youth groups across County Kildare in the coming year.
Available Grants and Awards include:
- Arts Act Grant Scheme
- Arts, Health & Wellbeing Award
- Culture Night 2026 Commission Award
- Dennis O'Driscoll Literary Bursary Awards (for emerging and established writers)
- Drama League of Ireland Summer School Bursary Award
- Emerging Artist Solo Exhibition Award, in Partnership with Riverbank Arts Centre
- Executive Coaching for Creative Professionals Bursary Award
- First Fortnight Award, in Partnership with First Fortnight Festival
- Local Publishing Award
- Platform 4 Recording Studio Bursary Award
- Research and Thinking Bursary Award
- Short Grass Short Film Bursary Award (€1,500)
- Short Grass Short Film Commission Award (€14,000)
- Tyrone Guthrie Centre Residency Bursary Award
- Youth Arts Residency Bursary Award
Applications are now open and can be submitted through our online portal: https://kildarecocoarts.submit.com/
The closing date for most awards is Friday, 27 February 2026 at 12pm. However, please note that the deadline for the Drama League of Ireland Summer School Bursary Award is earlier, at 12pm on Monday, 26 January 2026. Details regarding the Arts in Education Residency Bursary Award and the new Business Advice Sessions for Artists, in partnership with Kildare Local Enterprise Office (LEO), will be announced in February 2026.
Information Sessions 2026: To support applicants, Kildare County Council’s Arts Service will host a series of free information sessions at locations throughout the county:
Online: Wednesday, 14 January, 1pm – 2 pm
- Riverbank Arts Centre: Thursday 15 January, 6 pm – 7.30 pm
- Celbridge Library: Saturday 17 January, 10.30 am – 12 pm
All are welcome to attend, but booking is recommended via the online portal:
