Teaching-materialsPrior-teaching2025-26CommunicationsGrants and Residencies Research Activity

Grants and Residencies Research Activity

Level 6 Art, Craft & Design

Overview

This activity asks you to research real funding and residency opportunities that exist for artists in Ireland and internationally. The goal is to demystify the grants landscape and help you understand what kinds of support are actually available, what they're asking for, and whether they might be right for your practice—now or in the future.

Many artists avoid applying for grants because they assume "it's not for people like me" or "I'm not experienced enough." This research will help you see the full spectrum of opportunities, from beginner-friendly to highly competitive, and understand what funders are actually looking for.

Why This Matters

Grants and residencies can provide:

  • Time: Dedicated space to develop work without the pressure of immediate sales

  • Money: Materials budgets, living stipends, or both

  • Space: Access to specialized equipment, studios, or locations

  • Community: Connection with other artists, mentors, or new audiences

  • Legitimacy: Recognition that strengthens future applications and your CV

  • Learning: Opportunities to develop new skills or techniques

Understanding how funding works—and what the strings attached actually are—is essential for building a sustainable practice.

The Task

Research grants and residency opportunities from the following categories and select THREE different opportunities that interest you. At least one should be based in Ireland, and your three selections should represent different types of opportunities.

Research Sources

Irish National Level:

Local Council & Libraries:

Dublin Studios & Organizations:

  • Fire Station Artists' Studios (firestationartiststudios.com)

  • Temple Bar Gallery + Studios (templebargallery.com)

  • Visual Artists Ireland (visualartists.ie)

  • Block T (blockt.ie)

Irish Residencies:

  • Tyrone Guthrie Centre (tyroneguthrie.ie)

  • The Mattress Factory (themattressfactoryartscentre.ie)

  • Cill Rialaig Project (cillrialaigproject.ie)

  • Cow House Studios (cowhousestudios.org)

International Residencies:

  • Res Artis (resartis.org) - global database

  • TransArtists (transartists.org) - searchable database

  • Alliance of Artists Communities (artistcommunities.org)

Research Questions for Each Opportunity

For each of your three selected opportunities, answer:

1. Basic Information

  • What is the name of the grant/residency/award?

  • Who is the funding/hosting organization?

  • What is the total value (money, in-kind support, etc.)?

  • Application deadlines

  • Website/contact information

2. Eligibility & Experience Level

  • Who is this for?

  • Do you need previous exhibition history? How much?

3. What They're Funding

  • Is this for creating new work, or can it support existing projects?

  • Does it have to result in an exhibition?

4. The Practical Details

  • How long is the grant/residency period?

  • Is it full-time or can you keep other work/commitments?

5. The Strings Attached

  • Who owns the work you create?

  • What reporting is required?

6. Application Requirements

  • What do they want to see?

  • What's the selection process?

7. Your Strategic Assessment

  • Why does this opportunity interest you specifically?

  • Do you feel ready to apply now, or is this a future goal?

Deliverable Format

Create a document that includes:

Introduction (100-150 words): Brief overview of your current practice and what kinds of support would be most valuable to you right now.

Three Opportunity Profiles (200-500 words each): For each opportunity, address all the research questions above.

Reflection (200-300 words): What surprised you? What did you learn about how grants and residencies actually work?

Tips for This Research

Be Realistic About Timelines: Many students discover that "emerging artist" grants actually expect 3-5 years of post-graduation exhibition history.

Watch for Hidden Costs: Some residencies are "free" but don't cover travel or materials.

Read Past Recipients: Most organizations list previous winners. Look them up.

Beware of Vanity Opportunities: If you're paying more than €100 to apply, it's worth questioning whether this is really support or just a business exploiting artists.

Start Local: Irish artists often overlook local council grants because they seem "small" (€500-€2000), but they're often less competitive.

Due Date: [To be announced]

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