Galway International Arts Festival and Galway Culture Company are delighted to announce the recipients of the first round of their 2024 Open Call as part of GIAF’s Elevate Programme.
30 eligible applications were received for Round 1 of this call, with a total demand for €250,000 from an available fund of €55,000 which has been awarded to seven collectives and companies.
Four bursaries of €10,000 have been awarded:
TaleGate and ArtFarm Collective – Digital Media Voices Unleashed exploring Galway’s Living Bog; Arts Alive and Jane Cassidy – Identity working with artists with intellectual disabilities share their personal stories through an interactive wall; Brú Theatre Company’s Scothscéalta – a site-specific physical theatre, bilingual performance with an Irish language emphasis celebrating Paraic Ó’Conaire’s seminal work; and Project Space’s A Platform for All – a temporary initiative addressing the shortage of venues in Galway.
Three bursaries of €5,000 have been awarded:
Interface’s Sapling which sees artists respond to the planned restoration of an area of Sitka Spruce to native woodland in the surrounding land at Interface, Connemara; Galway Podcast Collective’s Between Every Wave Lies an Ocean – a 12-part podcast exploring modern Ireland through the lens of diversity; and Lara Clifford, Caoimhe Walshe, Beibhinn Delaney and Marie-Caroline Kawa’s Faith in the Future – developing research in the area of environmental sustainability and climate change.
Commenting on the bursary announcements GIAF’s Artistic Director Paul Fahy said, “The standard and quality of the applications was very strong and both the Festival and Galway Culture Company are delighted to offer these seven bursaries designed to support the development of new work or provide opportunities for the exploration of creative practices. We look forward to working with these Galway city and county based artists in the development of their projects.”
CEO of Galway Culture Company Marilyn Gaughan Reddan said, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Galway International Arts Festival on the Elevate bursaries. The calibre of work and applications in this first round has been exceptional, showcasing remarkable talent and innovative projects. We extend our warmest congratulations to the artists who received awards and are excited to witness the transformative potential of these projects. With the launch of the second open call, we look forward to supporting even more inspiring ideas that contribute to Galway’s vibrant cultural landscape.”
Open Call 2024 Round 2
Galway International Arts Festival in partnership with Galway Culture Company are also delighted to announce Round 2 of its 2024 Open Call through the Festival’s Elevate Programme which is now open.
Deadline for submissions is Wednesday 27 November 2024.
Further details on the Elevate Bursaries Round 2 can be found by clicking here or at https://www.giaf.ie/info/submissions/elevate
