Kildare County Council announce three new Creative Places Athy Arts Awards
Kildare County Council’s Arts Service is delighted to announce the launch of three new, Creative Places Athy, Arts Awards which are now open for applications. These awards offer opportunities for artists to develop their arts practices and for communities in Athy and the surrounding municipal district to participate in creative arts projects.
Creative Places Athy is a place-based initiative funded by the Arts Council of Ireland / An Comhairle Ealaíon and Kildare County Council, with support from Local Property Tax. The programme celebrates and strengthens the rich artistic and cultural life of Athy, supporting individuals, artists, creatives, and communities in developing both contemporary and traditional arts practices.
The Creative Places Athy Artist Award 2025 invites applications from professional artists at any stage of their career. This award supports the development of new ideas, creative practices, or artistically excellent work. Artists from, living in, or practicing in Athy or the surrounding municipal district are eligible to apply. The award provides €5,000 to cover all associated costs and expenses. While applicants may propose the creation of new work, this is not a required outcome.
The Creative Places Athy Creative Communities Award (Round 1) 2025 is designed for communities who wish to collaborate artistically with professional artists. With funding ranging from €2,000 to €5,000, this award supports arts projects in community or social contexts, including work with young people, older people, healthcare settings, residential care, and culturally diverse groups. Applications are welcome from both new and existing projects at any stage of development.
The Creative Places Athy Creative Connections Award offers up to €25,000 to support ambitious, socially engaged arts projects that build on existing relationships between artists and communities. This award is intended to deepen ongoing collaborations and strengthen durational projects in Athy and the surrounding municipal district. Projects may take place in a variety of social contexts, including youth, older people, healthcare, residential care, and cultural diversity.
Information sessions:
Do you want to speak with someone about your idea? Do you have questions about the application form? Book a one-to-one information session with Kildare Arts Service in Athy Library on Thursday morning 2nd October, Friday morning 6th October, or online on 7th October. 15 minute slots are available - To book your slot for an in-person or online session please email arts@kildarecoco.ie.
Applications for all three awards are now open and the deadline for submission is 12pm (noon) on 15th October 2025. For further details, guidelines, and to apply, please visit https://kildarecocoarts.submit.com/
