Grants and Opportunities

Name: 2027 Gathering Curatorship Tender for Performing Arts Forum
Deadline: Thursday 24 September 2026
Link: performingartsforum.ie
We invite tenders from individuals or teams to take on the curatorship of the 2027 Gathering in Wexford, encompassing the artistic programme and the speaker programme. Since 2005, Performing Arts Forum’s annual conference, The Gathering, has been a flagship event in Ireland’s performing arts calendar. Taking place each May, it brings together artists, arts workers, organisations, and funders for two days of connection, learning, and inspiration. In 2027, The Gathering moves to Wexford, based predominantly at the National Opera House, but also working with Wexford Arts Centre and Whites Hotel.

Name: NEMO – Northern European Mobility Opportunity
Deadline: Midnight Friday 18 September 2026
Link: nordiskkulturfond.org
As near neighbours, the Nordic countries, the UK, and Ireland constitute a shared international space with fertile ground for creative collaborations. However, several developments in recent years have contributed to making international artistic collaboration across the region more difficult, including increasing geopolitical tensions, growing economic uncertainty, and the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union. The Northern European Mobility Opportunity is a programme for mobility and artistic exchange. The programme focuses on individual artists and arts practitioners in the early stages of their careers.

Name: #BeActive EU Sport Awards
Deadline: 4pm Thursday 17 September 2026
Link: sport.ec.europa.eu
The 2026 call for the #BeActive EU Sport Awards has been published. The awards recognise outstanding sport initiatives that help improve health, strengthen communities, promote inclusion, and support shared European values. They highlight best practices and inspiring projects that encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to take part in sport and stay active. Applications are published in five categories: physical activity, inclusion, volunteering, across generations, and peace. A total prize fund of €125,000 is available. For each category, one winner will receive €15,000 and two finalists will receive €5,000 each.

Name: Visible Poetry Competition
Deadline: Thursday 11 September 2026
Link: instagram.com
In collaboration with Cork City Libraries, Visible Competitions are delighted to announce Visible, a new poetry competition. Nick Makoha will serve as an inaugural judge. The competition arises out of Cork City Libraries’ Black History Month event that celebrates literature from African diaspora authors. The booklist offered at the event will inspire poems. This is intended to be a way into writing, not an obstacle. Anyone resident on the island of Ireland, and over the age of 18 is welcome to submit to the competition. Poems must be inspired by a work on the booklist.

Name: The Arts Council Digital Artist in Residence: University Programme
Deadline: 5:30pm Thursday 11 September 2026
Link: artscouncil.ie
The Arts Council has partnered with Universities in Cork, Galway, and Limerick to run a Digital Artist in Residence Programme. The Digital Artist in Residence has been established as part of the Arts Council’s Digital Arts Policy. Now in its second year, following a pilot programme in 2025, the Residency focuses on providing a stimulating environment for the resident Digital Artists and affording them a degree of financial support to concentrate on their own digital arts practice. Submissions are made directly to the partner Universities in Cork, Galway and Limerick.

Name: Nero Book Awards New Writers Prize 2026
Deadline: 5pm Friday 11 September 2026
Link: nerobookawards.com
The Nero New Writers Prize, in association with Brunel University of London, aims to discover emerging writing talent, recognising unpublished and aspiring writers and supporting them as they develop into the writing stars of the future. Entrants are asked to submit a previously unpublished short story (a piece of fiction or narrative non-fiction) of max 5,000 words. It can be written for children or adult audiences, and should be a self-contained piece of work.

Name: Technical Manager for Dance Cork Firkin Crane
Deadline: 12 noon Friday 11 September
Link: dancecorkfirkincrane.ie
Dance Cork Firkin Crane (DCFC) is an artist-centred organisation dedicated to dance and dance artists. The Technical Manager will be a member of DCFC’s Senior Management Team. The successful applicant will work closely with the EAD to support the delivery of DCFC’s presentation and residency programmes, as well as rental performances. This is a unique opportunity for a creative, efficient, and dedicated individual to help fulfil DCFC’s potential to be a significant national venue for dance. The selected candidate will lead and deliver on all aspects of the technical and production disciplines at Dance Cork Firkin Crane (DCFC).

Name: Hospital Saturday Fund
Deadline: Thursday 10 September 2026
Link: hospitalsaturdayfund.org
The Hospital Saturday Fund was founded in 1873, at a time when little help was available for those needing costly hospital care. The Hospital Saturday Fund has two grant categories: 1. Standard grants of up to £2,000 or €3,000 OR 2. Large grants to up to £10,000 or €13,500 (please note that this is the maximum sum that HSF will grant). The Hospital Saturday Fund will consider giving grants to registered medical health charities within the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. The Hospital Saturday Fund will also consider giving grants to individuals within the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.

Name: The Arts Council: Authored Works
Deadline: 5:30pm Thursday 10 September 2026
Link: artscouncil.ie
The purpose of the Authored Works Award is to provide film artists with the creative and editorial freedom to make a feature-length, authored cultural film from a strong, artistic point of view for cinema exhibition. Films must be led by a film artist with a practice of making work for cinema. Proposals should be for feature-length films that are between 70 and 90 minutes’ duration. One film will be supported in 2026. A total fund of up to €247,500 will be available to the successful applicant. This includes a production budget of up to €230,000 and a further exhibition support of up to €17,500.

Name: The Arts Council: Visual Artists Workspace Scheme
Deadline: 5:30pm Thursday 10 September 2026
Link: artscouncil.ie
The objective of the Visual Artists Workspace Scheme is to support artists’ workspaces throughout the country, in order to provide the best possible working environment for visual artists. Where feasible, it also aims to provide a level of subsidy for the artists working in these spaces. Workspaces that can accommodate at least four professional artists working on site at the same time can apply. We give priority to proposals that demonstrate a unique need for the workspace and the form of support that you provide in your local area.

Name: Freelance Outreach Officer (Roscommon) for Mother Tongues
Deadline: Midnight Wednesday 9 September 2026
Link: activelink.ie
In partnership with the Roscommon Arts Centre (RAC) and the South Roscommon Family Resource Centre (SRFRC), Mother Tongues aims to establish local operational infrastructure to support consistent, high-quality, and growing delivery of the Language Explorers programme in Roscommon, a rural area with an increasing number of migrant and multilingual families. The local Outreach Officer will coordinate outreach, strengthen collaborations with local services, and ensure relational engagement with at-risk families who may face barriers to participation.

Name: Visitor Services Manager for Dublin City Council Culture Company
Deadline: Sunday 6 September 2026
Link: dublincitycouncilculturecompany.ie
The Visitor Services Manager is a key member of the Visitor Services and Events team. As the Visitor Services Manager, you are responsible for ensuring the delivery of Front-of-House services at the highest standard, in line with the person-focused policies and approach of Dublin City Council Culture Company. You will lead the Visitor Services team in the delivery of our values throughout their work. You will also ensure the efficient Front-of-House operation of the venues or buildings assigned to you, facilitating an environment that contributes to the success of all teams and activities taking place there.

Name: Hospital Saturday Fund
Deadline: Thursday 10 September 2026
Link: hospitalsaturdayfund.org
The Hospital Saturday Fund was founded in 1873, at a time when little help was available for those needing costly hospital care. The Hospital Saturday Fund has two grant categories: 1. Standard grants of up to £2,000 or €3,000 OR 2. Large grants to up to £10,000 or €13,500 (please note that this is the maximum sum that HSF will grant). The Hospital Saturday Fund will consider giving grants to registered medical health charities within the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. The Hospital Saturday Fund will also consider giving grants to individuals within the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.

Name: Arts Council: Arts Centres Partnership Funding
Deadline: 5:30pm Thursday 10 September 2026
Link: artscouncil.ie
The purpose of Arts Centres Partnership Funding is to invest in and support the infrastructure of arts centres required to sustain and develop the arts in Ireland. Arts centres are defined as full-time, public-facing, professionally managed, building-based arts organisations. They support the creation, presentation, and mediation of the arts across a range of artforms and arts practices. They support professional, collaborative, voluntary, and amateur arts practice. Recipients of Arts Centres Partnership Funding play a critical part in delivering the policy priorities of Making Great Art Work, the Arts Council’s ten-year strategy.

Name: Arts Council: Strategic Funding 2027
Deadline: 5:30pm Thursday 3 September 2026
Link: artscouncil.ie
The purpose of Strategic Funding is to invest in and support the organisations that are needed to lead, sustain, and develop the arts in Ireland. Strategic Funding supports key arts organisations, ensuring their sustainability and capacity to deliver high-quality arts experiences. It focuses on the delivery of excellent artwork, services, events, and activities that provide more people with the opportunity to enjoy high-quality arts experiences.

Name: European Social Fund Plus: Inclusive Incubation and Finance for More Entrepreneurs
Deadline: 4pm Wednesday 2 September 2026
Link: accesseurope.ie
The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) aims to support member states and regions to improve employment and education opportunities, to enhance social inclusion, and to tackle poverty. ESF+ is a combination of four funds from the 2014–2020 programming period. In Ireland, ESF+ funding is distributed by the national government and is mostly absorbed by state and semi-state bodies. Occasionally, the Irish managing authority publishes open calls for proposals from civil society organisations on specific employment and social inclusion themes.
Name: PEACEPLUS Strategic Planning and Engagement
Deadline: 4pm Friday 28 August 2026
Link: accesseurope.ie
PEACEPLUS is a cross-border EU funding programme that supports peacebuilding, social cohesion, and economic development in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.
The programme’s goal is to build a more prosperous and stable society by strengthening relationships between communities, tackling long-standing social and economic challenges, encouraging cross-border collaboration and mutual understanding, and supporting regional stability and sustainable growth. PEACEPLUS funds peace and reconciliation initiatives, as well as cross-border projects that improve economic, social, and environmental wellbeing. All projects must have a cross-community and cross-border collaboration element, and they must be able to demonstrate peace impacts.
Name: ESB Energy for Generations Fund
Deadline: 5pm Monday 24 August 2026
Link: esb.ie
The aim of our fund is to maximise the impact of our social investment in disadvantaged communities, by taking a more strategic approach to effect sustainable change aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our fund also aims to leverage skills and knowledge within the company to bring about viable and positive outcomes. Only project proposals from charities delivering supports and services impacting communities located on the island of Ireland are considered. Charities working in the areas of social inclusion, access to education, access to employment, and homelessness can apply to the fund.

Name: VISUAL Carlow: Chief Executive Officer/Artistic Director
Deadline: 5pm Friday 21 August 2026
Link: visualcarlow.ie
Carlow Arts Centre is seeking a Chief Executive Officer/Artistic Director to lead the next phase of development for the VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art and George Bernard Shaw Theatre. Based in Carlow Town and reporting to the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer/Artistic Director will shape artistic direction, drive strategic ambition, strengthen organisational performance, and grow VISUAL’s profile and audience impact at local, national, and international level. The successful candidate will foster strong, collaborative relationships with key stakeholders in support of VISUAL’s artistic vision, long-term sustainability, and civic impact.

Name: Towers and Tales Festival Curator
Deadline: 1pm Friday 21 August 2026
Link: lismorecastlearts.ie/opportunities
The Towers and Tales Festival Curator is responsible for the curation of the festival, including artistic programme activity, key stakeholder relationships, and marketing overview. Working closely with the Festival Producer, who will implement and coordinate the festival, and further supported on site by the Lismore Estates General Manager, Lismore Castle Arts (LCA), and the Lismore Castle Team, this is a key opportunity to define and steer the Towers and Tales Festival as it enters its 13th year. The role is fixed term/flexible commencing in mid-September/October 2026 and ending in June 2027.

Name: Coimisiún na Meán: Community Media Scheme
Deadline: Thursday 20 August 2026
Link: cnam.ie
Deadline:
The Community Media Scheme (CMS) provides funding to strengthen the social benefit contribution of the community media sector. The key objective of this scheme is to support a sustainable, inclusive, and participative community media sector that delivers social benefit and fosters active citizenship. The aims of this scheme are informed by the Community Media Policy, with the purpose of supporting the development of community broadcasting. The scheme aims to offer community broadcasters the opportunity to build capacity to further fulfil their social benefit remit as set out in their Programme Policy Statements and Service Descriptions.

Name: Anthology Short Story Competition
Deadline: Thursday 20 August 2026
Link: anthology-magazine.com
Established to recognise and encourage creative writing and provide a platform for publication, the Anthology Short Story Competition is open to original and previously unpublished short stories in the English language by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. There is no restriction on theme or style. Stories submitted must not exceed the maximum of 1,500 words. The winner of the Anthology Short Story will receive €1,000 and the winning story will be published in a future issue of Anthology.

Name: Children’s Books Ireland: Irish Language Officer
Deadline: 4pm Friday 14 August 2026
Link: childrensbooksireland.ie
Children’s Books Ireland is committed to inclusion of all readers in our work, with a strategic commitment to including children, young people, and families who read in Irish. We are seeking an Irish Language Officer to work two days per week, promoting the Irish language internally and overseeing the provision of the organisation’s services through the medium of Irish. The successful candidate will have an interest in and knowledge of children’s literature. They will inform the ongoing development and implementation of the organisation’s Irish Language Strategy and make strategic connections within the sector.

Name: Arts Council Strategic Funding 2027
Deadline: 5:30 Thursday 3 September 2026
Link: artscouncil.ie
The purpose of Strategic Funding is to invest in and support the organisations that are needed to lead, sustain, and develop the arts in Ireland. Strategic Funding supports key arts organisations, ensuring their sustainability and capacity to deliver high-quality arts experiences. It focuses on the delivery of excellent artwork, services, events, and activities that provide more people with the opportunity to enjoy high-quality arts experiences.

Name: Waterford Poetry Prize
Deadline: 10am Friday, 14 August 2026
Link: waterford.submit.com/show/381
Entries are now being accepted for the Waterford Poetry Prize 2026. This competition is open to all writers currently living on the island of Ireland. This prize has emerged from the influence of the late Waterford writer Seán Dunne, whose poetry continues to inspire. The winners of the Waterford Poetry Prize 2026 will be announced at the closing event of the Waterford Writers Weekend. This year the Arts Office is pleased to welcome back the poet, essayist, and librettist, Jessica Traynor, as adjudicator. First prize is €600, second €400, and third €300.

Name: UK-IRL Culture Connects Grant 2026–27
Deadline: 5pm Friday 31 July 2026
Link: artscouncil.ie
The UK-IRL Culture Connects Grant supports the early stages of artistic collaboration. It is designed to help artists build partnerships, develop ideas, and explore new approaches through time spent working together in-person. The fund prioritises creative development over final outputs, supporting meaningful outcomes such as research, experimentation, and professional growth. This includes (but is not limited to): research and development of new creative ideas; mentorship opportunities; exploring collaborative pathways with producers or partners; experimenting with new technologies or practices; and developing initiatives that support creative exchange.

Name: Arts Council Irish-Language Theatre Award
Deadline: 5:30pm Thursday 30 July 2026
Link: artscouncil.ie
The Irish-language Theatre Award supports specific artistic projects in theatre, from play development to theatre creation, large-scale production, and touring. It focuses on ensuring more people can enjoy high-quality theatre experiences in the Irish language throughout the country. The award is open to professional artists and organisations with a demonstrable track record in theatre practice. We offer Strand 1 and 2 of this award with the support of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI).

Name: National Lottery: Artists’ International Development Fund
Deadline: 12 noon Thursday 30 July 2026
Link: artscouncil-ni.org/
This fund is an annual programme jointly funded by the British Council and Arts Council NI, and is open to both individual artists and organisations. The programme will support early-stage international development opportunities for individual, freelance, and self-employed artists and organisations based in Northern Ireland. It will afford recipients the opportunity to spend time building links with artists, organisations, and/or creative producers in another country. The aim of the programme is to support individual international developmental opportunities for talent and artistic excellence from Northern Ireland and, thereby, enhance Northern Ireland’s international artistic development, reputation, and standing.

Name: Arts Council Project Award 2027
Deadline: Thursday 23 July 2026
Link: artscouncil.ie/funding-opportunities/project-award
The Project Award supports specific projects across various artforms. It focuses on enabling individual artists and organisations to bring their ideas to fruition and create excellent artistic work. The award is open to a number of artforms including architecture, children and young people, circus, dance, film, literature, music, participatory arts, street performance and spectacle, theatre, traditional arts, and visual arts.

Name: 2026 AIC Scheme Bursary Awards
Deadline: 5pm Monday 20 July 2026
Link: create-ireland.ie
The objective of the Artist in the Community (AIC) Scheme Bursary Award is to support individual professional artists in any artform to develop their collaborative socially engaged arts practice. There will be two awards of €20,000 awarded in 2026, offering the artists time to reflect on, and develop, their practice. The bursary award is aimed at individual professional artists who collaborate with individuals or groups/communities (non-arts professionals). Artists must have a track record of making and interpreting art collaboratively with communities.

Name: Coimisiún na Meán: Sound & Vision 4
Deadline: 12 noon Thursday 16 July 2026 (2 July for Shared Island Shared Stories)
Link: cnam.ie
Sound & Vision 4 is a funding scheme for broadcasters and independent producers that funds the production of high-quality programmes about Irish culture, heritage, and experience, and programmes to improve adult literacy. This funding round, part of the Shared Island Media Fund and operated under our Sound & Vision Scheme, will support television and radio programming that reflects the experiences, and diverse and shared heritages, of communities across the island, and brings the objectives of the Shared Island Media Fund to life. We welcome funding applications from independent producers and broadcasters.

Name: Axis Ballymun: General Manager
Deadline: Monday 13 July 2026
Link: axisballymun.ie/recruitment
The General Manager is a senior operational leadership role responsible for the smooth, safe, and effective day-to-day running of Axis – its people, building, systems, and operational governance – ensuring the organisation meets its legal, regulatory, and funder obligations, and continues to serve its community well. Working in close partnership with the CEO and senior managers, the General Manager will lead the operations of the organisation, line-manage a number of senior staff, oversee the building and its outsourced service contracts, and provide administrative support to the Board and to the organisation’s finance and funding activity.

Name: Mermaid Arts Centre: Box Office Coordinator
Deadline: 6pm Friday 10 July 2026
Link: mermaidartscentre.ie/
Mermaid Arts Centre is seeking applications for the position of Box Office Coordinator. This would suit someone with a strong interest in the arts and theatre, who holds excellent customer service skills, and who enjoys working with the public in a dynamic cultural environment. The successful candidate will support the Box Office Manager and play a key role in the efficient day-to-day operation as the main point of contact for information and ticket sales. The role also involves coordinating the Front-of-House team for all events.

Name: Dublin City Social Enterprise Awards 2026
Deadline: 12 noon Wednesday 24 June 2026
Link: innercityenterprise.com
The Dublin City Social Enterprise Awards aim to support social enterprise creation, and development in Dublin City. The awards programme provides grants, mentoring, promotion, and other supports to successful applicants to enable them to further develop their activities, increase their social impact, and benefit more individuals and communities. Each year, a fund of approximately €60,000 is distributed among innovative social enterprises.

Name: 2026 AIC Scheme Bursary Awards
Deadline: 5pm Monday 20 July 2026
Link: create-ireland.ie/
The objective of the Artist in the Community (AIC) Scheme Bursary Award is to support individual professional artists in any artform to develop their collaborative socially engaged arts practice. There will be two awards of €20,000 awarded in 2026, offering the artists time to reflect on, and develop, their practice. The bursary award is aimed at individual professional artists who collaborate with individuals or groups/communities (non-arts professionals). Artists must have a track record of making and interpreting art collaboratively with communities.

Name: Coimisiún na Meán: Sound & Vision 4
Deadline: 12 noon Thursday 16 July 2026 (2 July for Shared Island Shared Stories)
Link: cnam.ie
Sound & Vision 4 is a funding scheme for broadcasters and independent producers that funds the production of high-quality programmes about Irish culture, heritage, and experience, and programmes to improve adult literacy. This funding round, part of the Shared Island Media Fund and operated under our Sound & Vision Scheme, will support television and radio programming that reflects the experiences, and diverse and shared heritages, of communities across the island, and brings the objectives of the Shared Island Media Fund to life. We welcome funding applications from independent producers and broadcasters.

Name: CLÁR-Funding for Small-Scale Rural Projects
Deadline: Friday 3 July 2026
Link: gov.ie
CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Árd Riachtanais) or Funding for Small-Scale Rural Projects is a targeted investment programme which provides funding for small-scale infrastructural projects in rural areas that have suffered the greatest levels of population decline. Reopened in 2016, CLÁR aims to support sustainable development in identified areas by attracting people to live and work there. The funding works in conjunction with local funding and on the basis of locally identified priorities. The scheme is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development.

Name: Save Our Seas Foundation Grants
Deadline: 5pm Friday 3 July 2026
Link: saveourseas.com
The Save Our Seas Foundation (SOFS) is committed to protecting our oceans by funding research, education, awareness, and conservation projects focusing on the major threats to the marine environment. The SOSF offers a series of grants dedicated to research, conservation, and education projects worldwide. Keystone Grant and Small Grant projects should integrate at least two of these components and focus on charismatic marine megafauna, particularly sharks, rays, and skates. The Storytelling Grant is dedicated to supporting early career and emerging conservation storytellers, focusing on photography in its inaugural year.

Name: John Broderick Writer’s Residency 2026/2027
Deadline: 5pm Monday 29 June 2026
Link: artscouncil.ie
The John Broderick Writer’s Residency Series is designed to honour John Broderick who, following his death, bequeathed his estate to the Arts Council for ‘the benefit and advancement of the Arts in Athlone.’ The John Broderick Residency is open to professional writers in all genres. Writers must be over 18 years of age and resident on the island of Ireland. Writers must demonstrate an ability to mentor emerging writers, young people, and those interested in developing their writing skills. The residency is devised in partnership between the Arts Council and the Westmeath Arts Office.

Name: Rethink Ireland: Skills for Tomorrow Fund
Deadline: 1pm Monday 29 June 2026
Link: rethinkireland.ie
The Skills for Tomorrow Fund is a €1.5 million, 2.5-year fund supported by Deloitte Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG) via the Dormant Accounts Fund. The Skills for Tomorrow Fund aims to support innovative, evidence-based projects that build the capacity of individuals and communities experiencing marginalisation to thrive in the future world of work. It will fund initiatives that provide practical, accessible, and relevant pathways to employment, while addressing the root causes of disadvantage and promoting inclusive economic participation.

Name: Irish National Opera: Development Assistant
Deadline: Friday 26 June 2026
Link: irishnationalopera.ie
This role involves the delivery of high-quality donor engagement events and supporting the day-to-day activities of Irish National Opera’s Development Department. This varied and exciting role offers the opportunity to gain hands-on experience across fundraising, events, corporate partnerships, and donor engagement within a dynamic national arts organisation. The successful candidate will assist in the delivery of fundraising, membership, and supporter events; contribute to the research and stewardship of corporate partners and donors; assist in the preparation and coordination of fundraising materials and communications; and more.

Name: Arts & Disability Ireland: Programme and Service Development Manager
Deadline: 12 noon Tuesday 23 June 2026
Link: adiarts.ie
Are you someone with at least three years’ experience in project management and coordination within the arts and cultural sector? Do you have exceptional organisational and communication skills, experience managing projects and small teams, and an understanding of equality, diversity, and inclusion within an arts context? The Programme & Services Development Manager will work closely with the Executive Director and will be responsible for the implementation and ongoing development of Arts & Disability Ireland’s programmes and services, including the management of projects, audience development initiatives, access services, and training programmes.

Name: Creativity & Change Post-Graduate Certificate, MTU Crawford College of Art & Design
Deadline: Sunday 21 June 2026
Link: mtu.ie/courses/cracrch9
The Creativity & Change post-graduate certificate course is recruiting for 2026/27 intake in September. If you are an artist, youth/community worker, or changemaker interested in developing skills in collaborative practice and creative facilitation for global justice, then this course may be for you. Places will be offered on a rolling basis, so an early application is advised. Scholarships and fee discounts available for those who qualify.

Name: Arts Council Bursary Award Round 2
Deadline: 5:30pm Thursday 18 June 2026
Link: artscouncil.ie
5:30pm Thursday 18 June 2026The Bursary Award supports individual artists to develop their artistic practice. It focuses on providing artists with the time and resources they need to think, research, reflect, and deeply engage with their artistic practice. A broad range of artforms and arts practices are supported by the Bursary Award. These include Children and Young People’s Arts, Comedy, Dance, Literature: English Language, Literature: Irish Language, Multidisciplinary Arts, Music, Opera, Theatre, Traditional Arts, and Visual Arts.

Name: Box Office Assistant for dlr Mill Theatre
Deadline: 4pm Wednesday 17 June 2026
Link: performingartsforum.ie
This role will focus on providing exemplary customer service to all patrons of dlr Mill Theatre through smooth ticketing experiences and customer assistance, both over the phone and in person. This is a 16-hour-a-week position, with the possibility of additional hours during busy periods. Responsibilities will include the successful delivery of first-class sales and customer service, and operating the theatre’s box office and floor areas, including pre- and post-show, during intervals, and at events.

Name: URBACT: Call for Action Networks
Deadline: 2pm Wednesday 17 June 2026
Link: urbact.eu
The URBACT Programme helps cities across Europe work together to find practical, integrated solutions to shared urban challenges, from climate action and social inclusion to mobility and housing. This call aims to fund transnational networks of cities to implement their existing urban strategies through concrete local actions, while fostering cooperation, knowledge exchange, and capacity building for sustainable urban development. The Programme foresees the sharing of knowledge and the transfer of innovative practices between cities and levels of government. The purpose is to promote integrated sustainable urban development, improve cities’ policies, and the effectiveness of Cohesion Policy in cities.

Name: European Urban Initiative: Innovative Actions
Deadline: 1pm Monday 15 June 2026
Link: urban-initiative.eu
The European Urban Initiative is a tool to support cities of all sizes, to build capacity and knowledge, to support innovation, and to develop transferable and scalable innovative solutions to urban challenges of EU relevance. This call aims to bring together urban authorities to tackle a joint challenge. This upcoming call will introduce an updated framework of support for cities, building on and adapting the principles of the previous Innovative Action framework. This approach reflects an ongoing commitment to helping cities test locally innovative solutions and strengthen their capacity to address complex urban challenges.

Name: Irish Writers Centre: Front-of-House Assistant
Deadline: Sunday 14 June 2026
Link: irishwriterscentre.ie/work-with-us
The Irish Writers Centre require a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual, who has a genuine interest and passion for writers and literature, to join our team in welcoming everyone who uses our building. A keen interest in working in a public-facing environment, together with excellent organisational and communication skills, is essential. This role requires empathy and understanding of the needs of the professional, emerging, and beginner writers and organisations that are supported by the Irish Writers Centre. Previous experience is welcome but not essential as training will be provided.

Name: LHQ Gallery 2027–2029 Visual Art Exhibition Programme
Deadline: Sunday, 7 June 2026
Link: corkcoco.ie
Cork County Council Library and Arts Service invites proposals for its LHQ Gallery 2027–2029 Visual Art Exhibition Programme. This call out is open to professional artists, curators, and arts organisations. LHQ Gallery is located at the County Library Headquarters building next to County Hall. The gallery delivers a year-round programme of free events for all ages, with access points for various groups and audiences. Proposals for solo, two-person, or group shows are welcome. Exhibitions at LHQ Gallery will be 6 to 7 weeks in duration. In certain circumstances (performance work, for example), we will consider proposals for shorter periods.

Name: Write by the Sea Writing Competition
Deadline: 6pm Sunday, 7 June 2026
Link: writebythesea.ie/writing-competition
The 11th annual Write By The Sea Writing Competition is currently open. This year’s competition offers €4,000 in cash prizes, and the winning piece from each category will be published in the winter issue of The Waxed Lemon literary journal. The competition is run in partnership with The Rosslare Municipal District. The categories are short story, memoir, poetry, and flash fiction. Th entry fee €12 per piece, with a discount for three submissions.

Name: The Whispering Wisdom Poetry Prize 2026
Deadline: 31 August 2026
Link: whisperingwisdom.co.uk
Poetry invites a more reflective, contemplative way of engaging with the world – something increasingly rare in our fast-scrolling lives. This competition isn’t just about prizes. It’s about encouraging people to pause, reflect, and connect through words that carry depth, beauty, and meaning. This year, we will only be hosting one poetry competition, but we have extended the line allowance, increased the prizes, and widened eligibility criteria. Thank you for helping us build something slower, deeper, and more soul-nourishing.

Name: The Bath Novel Award
Deadline: Midnight, Sunday 31 May 2026
Link: bathnovelaward.co.uk
The Bath Novel Award (BNA) 2026 is a £5,000 international prize for adult and YA novels of every genre. The prize is open to unagented writers, who are unpublished, self-published, or independently published without advance. Submissions are invited until 31 May 2026, from writers of every age, gender, nationality, and residency. BNA laureates include Abi Daré for the manuscript of New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller The Girl with the Louding Voice, official James Bond author Kim Sherwood for the manuscript of Testament, and AP Firdaus for the BBC’s Between the Covers pick Remember, Mr Sharma.

Name: Arts Council Festival Investment Scheme Round 1
Deadline: 5:30pm Thursday, 28 May 2026
Link: artscouncil.ie
There are three funding bands in the Festivals Investment Scheme, and each one is designed to support festivals at different stages of their development. An organisation may make only one application under the Festivals Investment Scheme in a year (i.e. one application in one band per calendar year). You should choose the one most suitable for your festival organisation. The Festivals Investment Scheme is a competitive scheme that offers funding to support the staging of festivals on a non-recurring basis. It is important to note that funding under this programme is offered on a once-off basis.

Name: Galway Film Fleadh Pitching Competition
Deadline: Midnight Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Link: galwayfilmfleadh.com
The Pitching Competition at the Film Fair, the industry market of the Galway Film Fleadh, provides screenwriters at any stage of their career with an opportunity to pitch their projects in an open industry forum. The Pitching Competition has given new screenwriters a platform to connect with the wider industry, while filmmakers at all stages of development have used the Pitching Competition to attract producers, receive mentorship, and win development funding. All that is required to enter is a 500-word written pitch of your project from beginning to end (no cliffhangers). Any genre of feature drama, documentary, or animation will be considered.

Name: The Lir: Accounts & Hr Operations Manager
Deadline: Thursday, 21 May 2026
Link: performingartsforum.ie
The Lir – National Academy of Dramatic Art, at Trinity College Dublin, is seeking to appoint an Accounts & HR Operations Manager on a full-time basis. The Accounts & HR Operations Manager will support the Director of Administration in delivering day-to-day operations while promoting company policies and compliance with regulations. They will also bridge management and employee and/or student relations by addressing any grievances or other issues as required to ensure the implementation of dignity and respect practices at The Lir Academy. In all, the role offers a combination of data analysis, systems management, and employee relations.

Name: Stinging Fly Submissions
Deadline: 5pm Wednesday, 20 May 2026
Link: stingingfly.org/submissions
We are next open for submissions of fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry from 6-20 May 2026. This is for our Winter 2026-27 issue. We publish new, previously unpublished work by Irish and international writers. We have a particular interest in promoting new writers, and in promoting the short-story form. Each issue of The Stinging Fly includes a mix of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction, alongside our Featured Poets and Comhchealg sections, occasional author interviews, and novel extracts. We also welcome submissions of poetry and prose in translation.

Name: Choreography Project #23, Led by Mateusz Szczerek
Deadline: Ongoing
Link: coisceim.com
Choreography Project #23, led by Mateusz Szczerek, is a creative and performance opportunity for dance enthusiasts aged 18+ with a minimum of 2-years dance-class experience, taking place from April–June 2026. In Szczerek’s own words, ‘For this project, we will create an introspective piece based on exploration of skin – particularly the memories it holds and how that memory impacts our lives. Through guided improvisation, creative tasks, and collaborative choreographic processes, we will explore themes of self-care, self-doubt, and self-awareness.’ The project will culminate with the informal performance in Dublin on the 7th of June 2026.

Name: Patagonia Environmental Grants
Deadline: Thursday, 30 April 2026
Link: eu.patagonia.com
Patagonia supports environmental organisations with bold, direct-action agendas and a commitment to long-term change. We support innovative work that addresses the root causes of the environmental crisis and seeks to protect both the environment and affected communities. We focus on places where we’ve built connections through outdoor recreation and through our network of retail stores, nationally and internationally. We support multipronged campaigns that push for greater environmental protections and force the government to abide by its own laws.


