Elevate

Galway International Arts Festival in partnership with Galway Culture Company announce a new Open Call through the Festival’s Elevate programme.

The Elevate Bursary

Galway Culture Company and Galway International Arts Festival, working through its Elevate programme, are seeking applications from Creative Collectives, Ensembles and Professional Groups for a number of bursaries designed to support the development of new work or provide opportunities for the exploration of creative practices.

  Three bursaries of €10,000 each and four of €5,000 will be offered through an Open Call to collectives, ensembles and groups based in Galway and who are not otherwise regularly funded. 

Submissions across all art forms including digital arts, podcasts and video will be encouraged with a view to developing projects that reflect and represent the diversity of contemporary Ireland. The aim of these bursaries is to provide opportunity and support for artists from or living in Galway City and County to develop their work through support of their time, research, materials, and mentorship/training.

Applications from Creative Collectives, Ensembles and Professional Groups with their representative artists whose membership is currently underrepresented in the Irish arts sector, including but not limited to artists of colour, members of the Traveller community, artists who identify as LGBTQ+, migrants, and artists with disabilities are encouraged.

These bursaries further the aims of Galway International Arts Festival and Galway Culture Company to support artists to live and work in the Galway region and to develop sustainable creative practices and ambitious careers.

Eligibility

We welcome submissions across all genres including performance, music, visual arts, podcasts and video. Elevate aims to feature new projects from artists with backgrounds that reflect and represent the diversity of contemporary Ireland.

Elevate aims to foster new and innovative projects that may not otherwise be realised. The bursaries are awarded to artists to assist them in further developing their work, exploring their craft and creative practices and transforming their ideas into realised works of art. Projects which are in development and in need of completion funds are also eligible.

HOW TO APPLY

Seven bursaries will be awarded through this Open Call, three awards of €10,000 each and four of €5,000 each:

  • One of these bursaries is for those specifically working or developing research in the area of environmental sustainability or climate change.
  • Two of these bursaries are for artists who have lived experience of displacement or intergenerational migration, or are from historically marginalised communities or groups.

Please state clearly if your application is specifically for one of the above.

Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible for these bursaries, you must be a Creative Collective, Ensemble or Professional Group working in Galway City or County who are not otherwise regularly funded.

Application Process and Requirements:

Applications are now closed.

Applicants should compile the following information in one Word or PDF document:

  • A summary of your proposal [max 750 words]
  • A budget in support of your proposed project
  • A list of all those involved with brief biogs [150 words] and links to no more than three previous projects
  • A timeline for your proposed project/work

Email submissions@giaf.ie with ELEVATE OPEN CALL 2024 written in the subject line.

Deadline for Submissions: Applications are now closed.

SELECTION PROCESS:

Applications will be reviewed by representatives from Galway International Arts Festival, Galway Culture Company and an independent assessor. The selection will be based on:

Artistic Quality (30)
Ambition and Vision (30)
Feasibility of the idea (20)
Potential impact of the award on the development of the applicant’s work (20)

The successful applicants will be notified via email by Friday 24 May 2024.

If you have any further questions, please email submissions@giaf.ie