There have been a number of successful applications for funding under Laois County Council’s Arts Act Grant Scheme 2025.
A total of 25 applicants received close to €9,000 in grant funding designed to develop, support and enhance the arts throughout Laois.
22 applications were received from professional artists and artist groups, with 14 successful applicants receiving a total of €5,200.
12 applications were received from voluntary and community groups, with nine successful applicants receiving a total of €2,800.
10 applications were received from artists for the Tyrone Guthrie Centre Bursary, with two successful applicants receiving a total of €980.
The adjudicators were Michelle De Forge, Manager of the Dunamaise Arts Centre, and Jock Nichol, Independent Artist and Educator at the LOETB, with advice and support from Monica Flynn, Assistant Arts Officer with Laois County Council.
The full breakdown of the funding is as follows:
Individual Artist and Artist Groups
Ten different artists and groups each received €400 funding, including:
- Gareth Jenkins for purchase of new materials and project developments.
- Laura Matikaite for a workshop and training program, including material costs and travel.
- Niamh Coffey to fund a textile exhibition.
- Jen Donnery for a publication to celebrate the life of Bridget Flannery.
- Leonie Connellan for recording fees and publishing fees.
- Gary Duncan for the filming of a museum video.
- Celtic Con for a gaming and artist convention.
- Kate McDonald for an exhibition in the Dunamaise Arts Centre
- OHR Dance Company for a youth dance workshop.
- Emer Dunne Trio for production and recording of traditional music.
Evegeny Chubatyy was awarded €350 for new artist masterclass program.
€300 each was awarded to Susie Kelly for works to form part of future exhibition, and to Bernadette Keating for a training course to facilitate new exhibitions.
Jack Higgins received €250 for Irish trad music summer school.
Voluntary and Community Groups
Mountmellick Embroidery was awarded €500 to conduct an embroidery workshop.
Abbeyleix Heritage house received €200 to fund a six-week long artist workshop.
Seven different groups each received €300, including:
- Ballyroan Community Hall for art competitions and classes for children with sensory difficulties.
- Castletown Community Hall for artist family workshops.
- Clonad GAA for a series of arts events held as Gaeilge.
- Mná le Chéile for a history and arts tour around historic Laois sites.
Tyrone Guthrie Centre Bursary
Theatre writer Lesley Conroy was awarded €490 for scriptwriting of a new paly.
Artist Paul Cashin was also awarded €490 for landscape oil paintings on the subject of interpersonalism.
SEE ALSO – €1.7 million loan approved for works on Portlaoise and Portarlington Leisure Centres
