Fingal County Council in partnership with Children’s Books Ireland and Tyrone Guthrie Centre announce the Children’s Books Bursary
An opportunity for a Professional Artist to avail of a week-long residency, to take place between 3rd and 10th November and 17th and 24th November 2025.
Fingal County Council Arts Office, in partnership with Children’s Books Ireland and the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, are pleased to announce an opportunity for a Professional Artist to avail of a week-long residency, to take place between 3rd and 10th November and 17th and 24th November 2025.
The bursary is designed specifically for mid-career children’s books authors or illustrators, working in English or Irish, who require time and space to focus on their craft to the benefit of their continuing careers.
With a focus on creative exchange and collaboration, Fingal County Council Arts Office will support one bursary and welcomes applications from all artists who meet the criteria.
In addition to the cost of a week’s stay at Tyrone Guthrie Centre, the bursary also provides a financial stipend of €325. To be eligible to apply applicants must be from, have studied or currently reside in Fingal.
Sarah O’Neill, Fingal County Council Arts Officer said, ‘The Children’s Books Ireland and Tyrone Guthrie Centre bursary aligns with the key strategic goal in the Fingal Arts plan 2019-2025, to enable excellence by supporting artists and organisations to lead in innovation, collaboration and the development of original work. The weeks stay with other recipients of this bursary will allow for networking and idea sharing, from mid-career artist all over Ireland.’
Niamh Sharkey, Writer and Illustrator, recipient of the 2024 Bursary stated, "I was incredibly grateful for the opportunity to focus on developing new picture books last year. It gave me the time to immerse myself in fresh ideas, and I completed rough drafts for a dummy book set to be published this June! Connecting with fellow children's book community was energizing, strengthening existing relationships and sparking new ones. The open exchange of ideas with both established and emerging writers and illustrators, as well as artists from other disciplines, was invaluable. I left with new connections that have already led to exciting collaborations."
Applications will be assessed by a selection panel comprised of representatives of Children’s Books Ireland, the Tyrone Guthrie Centre and local authority partners. The successful applicants will be notified by early September.
The closing date for applications is Friday 15th August 2025 at 4pm.
All awarded bursaries must take place between 3rd and 10th November or 17th and 24th November 2025 to allow for creative exchange and collaboration between artists where appropriate.
Artists wishing to apply should contact [email protected]
About Niamh Sharkey:
Niamh Sharkey is the creator and executive producer of Disney Junior's animated preschool series Henry Hugglemonster, and the author of I’m a Happy Hugglewug, the children’s picture book published by Walker Books, on which the television series is based.
Niamh is an award-winning author and illustrator of children’s picture books.
Among the awards Niamh's books have won, are the prestigious Mother Goose award and The Bisto Book of the Year. Her current titles with Walker Books include The Ravenous Beast, Santasaurus and her latest title On the Road with Mavis and Marge, which won the Junior Book of the Year category at the Irish Book Awards 2010.
She is a former Laureate na nÓg or Irish Laureate for Children's Literature 2012-2014.
About Children’s Books Ireland:
Children’s Books Ireland is the national charity and arts organisation that champions every child’s right to develop a love of reading. Our mission is to inspire a love of reading in children and young people in Ireland, to share our expertise and enthusiasm with the adults who guide and influence them, to champion every child’s right to excellent books and live literature events and support the artists who make that goal possible across the island of Ireland.
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