Special festival bursary launched: ‘Art as a Vehicle for Change’

Funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Department for Communities in response to Covid-19 and the devastating impact the pandemic has had on the arts and cultural sectors in Northern Ireland, the festival has developed this bursary to support new and emerging artists interested in art as a vehicle for change.

According to Festival Director, Peter O'Neill: "We would like to develop new approaches to presenting controversial or ‘difficult’ issues and are particularly interested in showcasing and interrogating aspects of political art such as socio-political expression, protest and satire. We are also interested in discovering new ways of strengthening the dialogue between the arts and political, social and cultural movements."

The bursary will be awarded in March 2021 following a competition which closes on 22nd March 2021 at 5.00pm. The competition is open to established or emerging artists/performers/event organisers to assist in the presentation of new work at our next festival taking place 21st-27th March 2022. 

We are open to all suggestions and adopt an expansive interpretation of the term ‘political art’ especially if your proposal is an imaginative and creative one. The competition is open to individuals and organisations based in Northern Ireland including community groups, colleges, artists, arts organisations, businesses, cultural groups, charities NGOs etc. You may have an idea for an event or an art work around a particular issue or perhaps a type of event such as a theatre production, art installation, film project, debate, exhibition, workshop or kids offering etc. However, the production or event has to be engaging and accessible for the wider community, and deliverable from a logistical, health & safety, and financial point of view. 

Please forward a synopsis of no more than 500 words outlining your idea, how it will be delivered, a budget breakdown and CVs of your team.

Entries marked ‘Special Festival Bursary’ should be sent to [email protected] before 5.00pm on 22nd March 2021. No late entries can be accepted.