€55,000 in art bursaries are awarded

THE Artlinks partners have announced that €55,000 in bursaries has been awarded to support artists by the Artlinks partnership of local authorities Arts Offices in Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny and Waterford.

The initiative, supported by the Arts Council/ An Chomhairle Ealaíon provides professional development opportunities and supports for established and emerging artists who are resident in these four counties in the South East region.

In total Wexford Arts Office awarded €21,000 in bursaries to artists based in County Wexford.

The recipients of bursaries from the Wexford Arts Office are: Literature: Caroline Busher, Enniscorthy; Joe Neal, Castlebridge; Visual Arts: Alanna O’Kelly, Bannow; Oonagh Latchford, Enniscorthy; Richard Carr, Gorey; Julia Dubsky, Gorey; John Busher, Enniscorthy; Mary Claire Kehoe, Gorey; Orla Barry, Duncormick; Music: Ian Doyle, Enniscorthy; Emily Redmond, Gorey; and Paula Cox, Wexford town.

This represents a significant investment in artists from the ArtLinks partner regions. These bursaries are vital for artists -both emerging and established - providing the means to expand their practice, take risks, as well as develop their skills base through professional development opportunities, said Wexford’s county arts officer Liz Burns.

‘The demand and standard of the applications in 2018 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.

Artists who live in the four partner Local Authorities can register for membership free of charge on www.artlinks.ie