Fingal County Council Arts Office announces Ardgillan Castle studio award 2025-2026

Padraig Conlon 29 Apr 2025
Genevieve Howard Studio

Fingal County Council Arts Office, in partnership with Ardgillan Castle, is offering a funded studio space for professional artists for a one-year period starting 1st October 2025.

The Studio Award includes full coverage of studio rental, utilities, and administration costs, offering artists an invaluable opportunity to develop their practice in supportive environment.

Open to professional individual artists, small collectives, or groups of artists at any stage of their career and working in any artform, applicants must have been board or currently reside in the Fingal administrative area to be eligible to apply.

The studio measures 5.7m x 4.7m and is on the first floor of the castle.

Ardgillan Castle Ltd. and Fingal County Council currently support 15 studio spaces for artists and designers with a diverse range of practices.

The initiative began in 2020. Ardgillan Castle opened Ardgillan Gallery in March 2023, providing a contemporary artistic space in Fingal.

The gallery hosts exhibitions, artist talks, workshops and events.

Fingal County Council Arts Officer, Sarah O’Neil said on announcement of this award,

‘This continued partnership with Ardgillan Castle and Gallery aligns with our strategic goal of enabling excellence from the Fingal County Council Arts Plan 2019-2025.

“The dedicated studio space allows for artists to develop and produce high-quality work.”

Genevieve Howard, recipient of the Argillan castle studio award in 2024, says of her time, ‘The residency at Ardgillan Castle has been a transformative experience in the development of my work and artistic practice.

“The space has allowed me to engage with my process in a focused way while the beautiful surroundings of the castle have provided deep inspiration and an exciting new direction in my work.

“The environment here has been very supportive, being able to engage with the other artists and people who work at the castle.

“I have felt very inspired and encouraged during my time.”

About Ardgillan Castle:

Ardgillan Castle, a grand country house located in Balbriggan was built in 1738 by Robert Taylor, with its west and east wings added in the late 1800s.

The house, consisting of two storeys over a basement extending under the southern lawns, has been restored with the ground floor rooms and kitchens open to visitors for guided tours.

The expansive 200-acre grounds also feature a rose garden, walled garden, and seasonal gardens.

Artists wishing to be considered, should apply after reading the guidelines by emailing [email protected] :

For further information and application guidelines, please see:

www.fingalarts.ie

www.fingal.ie/arts

www.ardgillancastle.ie

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