30 eligible applications were received for Round 1 of this call, with a total demand for €250,000 from an available fund of €55,000 which has been awarded to seven collectives and companies.
Four bursaries of €10,000 have been awarded
TaleGate and ArtFarm Collective Digital Media Voices Unleashed exploring Galway's Living Bog; Arts Alive and Jane Cassidy Identity working with artists with intellectual disabilities share their personal stories through an interactive wall; and Brú Theatre Company’s Scothscéalta a site-specific physical theatre, bilingual performance with an Irish language emphasis celebrating Paraic Ó'Conaire's seminal work; and Project Space’s A Platform for All a temporary initiative addressing the shortage of venues in Galway.
Three bursaries of €5,000 have been awarded
Interface’s Sapling which sees artists respond to the planned restoration of an area of Sitka Spruce to native woodland in the surrounding land at Interface, Connemara; Galway Podcast Collective’s Between Every Wave Lies an Ocean a 12-part podcast exploring modern Ireland through the lens of diversity; and Lara Clifford, Caoimhe Walshe, Beibhinn Delaney and Marie-Caroline Kawa’s Faith in the Future developing research in the area of environmental sustainability and climate change.
Commenting on the bursary announcements GIAF’s Artistic Director Paul Fahy said, “The standard and quality of the applications was very strong and both the Festival and Galway Culture Company are delighted to offer these seven bursaries designed to support the development of new work or provide opportunities for the exploration of creative practices. We look forward to working with these Galway city and county based artists in the development of their projects.’