Age & Opportunity is pleased to announce the opening of applications for the 2026 Artist Awards. These awards are part of our ongoing commitment to supporting artists aged 50 and over in Ireland. They aim to recognise both emerging talent and the importance of continued professional development in later life.
We are currently inviting applications for awards: the Creative Ageing Writing Bursary, Professional Development Artist Award and the Emerging Artist Award. Each award offers €1,000 to a successful applicant and is designed to support artists at different stages of their creative journey.
Creative Ageing Writing Bursary 2026
Application Deadline: 12:00 noon, Tuesday 25th August 2026
The Creative Ageing Writing Bursary (established in 2021) supports a writer, artist, or arts worker to reflect on the relationship between the arts and ageing in Ireland. The bursary provides time and space to to develop a new, publishable essay (max 1500 words) that reflects on your artistic practice as you have aged; your work with older people over the last 30 years; the wider arts and ageing landscape in Ireland.
Award Amount: €1,000
Eligibility: Professional artists, professional arts worker, or a writer in any field, aged 50+ based in the Republic of Ireland.
Application Requirements:
- Completed application form (online or email)
- CV
- Writing sample (max 3 pages)
If writing is not your main practice, also include samples of your
artistic work or organisation.
Apply here:
Guidelines: Creative Ageing Writing Bursary 2026 guidelines
Contact for queries or application support: arts@ageandopportunity.ie
Professional Development Artist Award 2026
Application Deadline: 12:00 noon, Tuesday 25th August 2026
Artistic practice is a lifelong journey that requires ongoing learning and development. This award supports professional artists aged 50+ who want to enhance their skills, develop new approaches, or strengthen their career through specific development activities. The bursary is worth up to €1,000.
Please note in 2026 we are changing to an artform-based submission cycle. This year we are accepting applications from artists working in the performing arts only.
Award Amount: €1,000
Eligibility: Professional artists aged 50+ based in the Republic of Ireland working in performing arts (theatre, music, dance etc).
Application Requirements:
- Completed application form (online or email)
- CV
- Proof of membership of a professional body
- Three samples of work (writing samples no more than 2 pages)
- Offer of a place on a professional training/development opportunity (if
relevant) and or confirmation letter from an organisation or individual
relating to the training or development opportunity, including an outline
of the cost of the opportunity - A budget demonstrating the costs and income needed to support the
opportunity
Apply here:
Guidelines: Professional Development Artist Award 2026 guidelines
Contact for queries: arts@ageandopportunity.ie
Emerging Artist Award 2026
Application Deadline: 12:00 noon, Tuesday 25th August 2026
Many people only begin developing an artistic practice later in life. This bursary supports artists aged 50+ who are at an early stage of their professional artistic career. The bursary is worth €1,000.
We hope that the supported work will be shared as part of Bealtaine 2027, though this is not required.
Please note in 2026 we are changing to an artform-based submission cycle. This year we are accepting applications from artists working in the performing arts only.
Award Amount: €1,000
Eligibility: Emerging artists aged 50+ based in the Republic of Ireland working in performing arts (theatre, music, dance etc).
Application Requirements:
- Completed application form (online or email)
- CV
- Proof of membership of a Professional Arts Organisation
- Three samples of work (images, video links, files; writing samples no
more than 2 pages). If writing, examples should be no more than 2 pages
each). - One letter of support from a professional artist or arts organisation
Apply here:
Guidelines: Emerging Artist Award 2026 guidelines
Contact for queries or application support: arts@ageandopportunity.ie
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Age & Opportunity is committed to promoting equality of opportunity and welcomes applications from all communities. We particularly encourage submissions from artists who are underrepresented in the arts, including those from diverse ethnic backgrounds, the Traveller community, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, and those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds.
In line with the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty, we are dedicated to taking positive measures to ensure that our programmes reflect the diversity of Irish society and are inclusive of all.
