Arts Bursary: Ballinglen Arts Foundation 2026/27 (Ards and North Down Borough Council)

Overview

Ards and North Down Borough Council 

ARTS BURSARY: BALLINGLEN ARTS FOUNDATION 2026/27

The aim of Ards and North Down Borough Council’s Arts Bursary scheme is to enhance professional development across visual arts.

This bursary award is for a two-week Studio Residency at Ballinglen Arts Foundation. Only one award is available for 2026/27*. Applicants may only submit one application form.  

*Awards are subject to budget approval.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

To be eligible you must meet all the following:

• Be resident within the Ards and North Down Borough Council Area.
• Be a practicing professional artist in a recognised visual arts form.*
• Aged 21 years+.

*See Apendices in Application Criteria and Guidance Notes for definitions of 'professional artist' and 'recognised visual art forms'

WHAT IS AVAILABLE?

This bursary award is for a two-week studio residency at Ballinglen Arts Foundation. Only one award is available for 2026/27.

CRITERIA

Please read the full Bursary Application Criteria and Guidance Notes document linked at the bottom of this page (can be downloaded under the heading "Related") before completing your application.

SUPPORT MATERIALS

You will be required to upload support materials for this application, so it is recommended that you have the following documents prepares, and in the formats stated, in advance of completing this application: 

• Up-to-date Artist CV (PDF or Word document ONLY)
• Supporting materials in the following formats (Images in JPEG or PNG format ONLY no less than 1MB, video files no more than 60 seconds in length and less than 25MB, publications as one PDF document no more than one page in length per example)

Failure to meet the eligibility and/or supply the requested essential documentation at time of application will result in your application not being assessed.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Monday 8 December 2025, 11:59pm (sharp)

Please Note: Application form will shut precisely on the deadline and incomplete applications will be lost, and therefore not received or accepted.

You are encouraged to complete your application at your earliest convenience and not on the date of the deadline in case you encounter internet or connection issues. 

Please ensure that you leave sufficient time before the deadline to complete all questions, and upload all supporting documents to the application form.

IMPORTANT

It is recommended that before submitting your application that you click the 'save and come back later' button at the bottom left of each page. This will save your work allowing you to return to it. You will need to complete each question on that page before you can save the work or move on to the next page. If you submit your application without saving your work, and you experience an IT issue or loss of internet connection, your work will be lost and you will have to start again. 

PLEASE NOTE

If you require special assistance with this application process, require a one-to-one telephone/video meeting for advice, or would prefer to complete a Word version of this application, please contact us before the deadline (no later than 12noon, Monday 1 December 2025) so this can be arranged. 

Email: artsgrants@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk for more information.

What happens next

What happens to your Application?

• Applications for the Ards and North Down Bursary to Ballinglen Arts Foundation are assessed after the deadline by a panel made of Ards and North Down Borough Council Officers.

• The deadlines for receipt of applications are published on the cover of the application form. Completed applications should be submitted via the online application form by the relevant deadline.  

• Successful residency awards must take place between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027. 

• Applicants should note that while careful consideration will be given to each application, it may not be possible to assist every applicant even if all the criteria are met. 

• You will be contacted by email to inform you of the outcome of your application. This usually takes four - six weeks from the application deadline.  

• Please refer the Council website regarding appeals procedure. www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk