Twelve artists share€20,000 in bursaries

TWELVE County Wexford artists are to share in a €20,000 bursary fund allocated by the Arts Department of the County Council under the regional Artlinks scheme which also includes local authorities in Carlow, Kilkenny and Waterford.

The Wexford fund is part of an overall €60,000 allocation to artists across the south east in an initiative supported by the Arts Council to help artists in various disciplines to develop their work.

The County Wexford recipients are in the following categories:

Literature, Mary O’Brien, Wexford town,€1,000 and David Begley, Blackwater €1,500; Visual Arts, Kate Murphy, Wexford town €1,000, Laura Ní Fhlaibhinn, Gorey €3,000, Laurence O’Toole, Carne, €1,300 and Els Dietvorst, Duncormick €1,500; Music, Aideen Ní Riada, New Ross €1,000, Maria Hughes, Gorey, €1,500, The Ocelots, Wexford town €2,000, Laura Hyland, Carrig-on-Bannow, €2,000; Drama, Michelle Dooley Mahon Wexford town €2,000; Film, Terence White, Gorey €2,200.

Liz Burns, County Arts Officer, Arts Department said the allocation represents a significant investment in artists from the Artlinks partner regions.

‘ These bursaries are vital for artists, both emerging and established, providing the meant to expand their practice, take risks as well as develop their skills base.

Ms. Burns the the €20,000 allocatd this year by Wexford County Council is an increase of €5,000 over last year.

‘ The demand and standard of applications in 2017 was very high across all art forms and we are pleased to offer this much needed support to Wexford artists. In the long term, this can only benefit the artistic landscape of County Wexford,’ she said.