Over 8.5 million euro awarded to date.
The Arts Council is now accepting applications for the next round of the Agility Award which aims to support artists in very practical ways at any stage of their career.
Earlier this year, as one response to the extraordinary challenges that thousands of artists and arts workers were facing due to the ongoing impact of Covid-19 and restrictions, The Arts Council launched a new award scheme which has to date supported over 1800 applicants.
The aptly named Agility Award, aimed to provide an additional funding source for artists & arts workers at any stage of their career across all artforms.
There were 3 rounds of the award in 2021 with applications received from over 3,700 applicants. Applicants could apply for up to 5,000 euro. Over 8.5 million euro has been awarded to successful applicants to date.
Of those artists and arts workers awarded funding, 50% were emerging or early career stage artists or arts workers and 40% were first time applicants to The Arts Council.
Some examples of projects awarded funding include funding for the recording of an album, spending time researching Irish fiddle playing, creating short poetry videos, composing new works for the saxophone, research and development of a multimedia dance project, a visual artist deepening their relationship with the landscape of Co. Kerry, completing a novel, developing expertise in digital theatre, creating a community based arts participation project.
Recipients spoke of how the award would allow them to fulfil long term ambitions, support them and allow them to emerge from this time (as one artist said) on solid artistic ground, and how receiving an award like this for the first time was a real validation of their passion.
Applications for the 2022 Agility Award open on 21st December 2021 and will close on 3rd February 2022. For more information click here.
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