Fingal County Council is inviting artists in the area to apply for funding as it announces a €200,000 support scheme.
Professional artists can apply for up to €5,000 to go towards travel/professional development opportunities, a residency or towards the development of work.
The aim of the Artists’ Support Scheme is to support individual professional artists from Fingal to develop their practice and is open to those at any stage of their professional career in the areas of music, visual art, drama, literature and dance.
To be eligible to apply for funding, the professional artists must be resident in, have studied in or were born in the Fingal administrative area.
Speaking about the news, Mayor of Fingal Seána Ó Rodaigh said: "I am confident the 2022 funding opportunity will be of great benefit to our artists and will nurture and encourage artistic excellence in Fingal."
Chief Executive of Fingal County Council Ann Marie Farrelly said: "Last year 89 applicants working in diverse disciplines were awarded a combined total of €150,000 through this bursary strand. The increase in funding again this year reflects the council’s continued commitment to support and invest in its artists."
Director of Services Emer O’Gorman commented: "Fingal County Council recognises and values the important role of the arts and artists in our society and is very pleased to provide funding to professional artists through this essential scheme."
Emily Aoibheann McDonnell is an aerialist and artist from Fingal who was one of the 89 artists awarded under the Artists’ Support Scheme in 2021.
The funding Emily received went towards research and development of a new ambitious work combining aerial dance and digital technologies.
She revealed that the funding she got "allowed me to collaborate with artists Liing Heaney and Rob Mirolo, as well as technical experts, to combine aerial dance and digital technology for a new experimental artwork."
She added: "The funding allowed us time to work together, enhance our technical expertise and bring together elements of dance, digital art, illustration, animation and technology in exciting, beautiful ways.
"Although this phase of work focused on research and artistic process, we plan to finish and share our artwork with audiences through film and performance in the future."
The closing date for for applications for the Artists’ Support Scheme is Friday, February 25 2022 at 4pm.
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