Kildare County Council Arts Service welcomes applications from individual artists and/or collectives in any artform to the Kildare Arts Service First Fortnight Award 2024. The award, in collaboration with
First Fortnight and supported by the HSE, aims to support the development and presentation of new work that provokes conversation around mental health and promotes mental health awareness and wellbeing.
The Kildare Arts Service First Fortnight Award will provide a grant of €4,000 towards the development and/or presentation of new work. The recipient(s) of the award will be included as part of Kildare’s First Fortnight Festival programme of events in January 2025.
Kildare County Council Arts Service is committed to supporting health and wellbeing through engagement and participation in the arts and developing opportunities for professional development. Kildare’s Arts, Health and Wellbeing programme supports public engagement, provides opportunities for artists working in this area, and aims to promote artistic ambition and inclusive participation.
Applications to this award are welcome from individual artists and/or collectives in any artform from or currently residing in County Kildare, with ideas for new or ‘in development’ projects that provoke conversation around mental health and promote mental health awareness and wellbeing.
We welcome applicants who represent the diversity of Irish society. We encourage applications from all areas of the community regardless of your gender, sexual orientation, civil or family status, religion, age, disability, race or membership of the Traveller Community, or socio-economic background.
We welcome applications from artists whose first language is not English.
Although not an obligatory requirement, applicants to all grants offered by Kildare County Council Arts Service might consider demonstrating how their activity addresses the themes of climate change and climate action.
Although not an obligatory requirement, applicants to all grants offered by Kildare County Council Arts Service might consider demonstrating how their activity addresses the themes of inclusivity, equality and cultural diversity.
Kildare County Council is committed to fair pay and a policy to Pay the Artist. Please refer to the Arts Council's policy on
Paying the Artist.
Your attention is also drawn to
safetocreate.ie, where you will find more information about the Safe to Create Dignity at Work programme which aims to impact change on the culture and practices of the arts sector in Ireland to provide safer working conditions for artists and arts workers.
About First Fortnight
First Fortnight is Ireland’s Mental Health Arts & Culture Festival. First Fortnight challenges mental health prejudice and stigma through arts and cultural action and programmes events that create spaces for unscripted conversations around mental health.
Application deadline
Applications will only be accepted via the online application form.
Applications must be submitted before the deadline at 12pm Wenesday 28th February 2024.
Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
We suggest that applicants try to submit their application form early in case of technical difficulties. Should they arise, please email arts@kildarecoco.ie and we will endeavour to respond as soon as possible.
Supporting Material
It is advantageous to include supporting material that enhances your application. Applicants should not assume that the independent assessment panel are familiar with your work or your previous funding history. The panel will use the supporting material to get a better understanding of the track record of your creative collaborator(s) and the feasibility of your proposal.
Information Session
Kildare County Council Arts Service will host a number of Information Sessions in locations throughout the county about applying for arts grants and bursary awards with Kildare County Council. Sessions will be of particular interest to individual artists, art collectives, community groups, youth groups and schools who intend to apply for Arts Grants from Kildare County Council in 2024.
Information Sessions:
Please note that information imparted at each session will be the same - there is no need to register to attend all 3 sessions. All are welcome to attend this FREE session, but booking is recommended.
In addition, an information video will be made available via Kildare Arts Service’s
YouTube and social media channels from Monday 22nd January 2024.
If you need help to complete and submit your application we want to hear from you. Please email or call the Arts Service team at least three weeks before the award deadline, or as early as possible, to give us time to assist you. Email: arts@kildarecoco.ie / Tel: 045 980872.