The 2018 Arts Grants and Bursaries Scheme at Kerry County Council was heavily subscribed this year. The application process was managed by the Arts Office at Kerry County Council and co-ordinated by Arts Officer, Kate Kennelly, adjudicated on by an expert panel. “Applications were of a very high calibre, across art forms and reflect a great level of artistic vibrancy across the county”, Kate stated. ‘The grant is always heavily subscribed to with very strong applications from each corner of the county’.
In Tralee Municipal District awards under the Arts Act Grant (€5,700) were made to Tralee Art Group (€500), Studio 8-Kerry Contemporary (€500), National Circus Festival of Ireland (€2,500), Kerry Choral Union (€500), Con Curtin Music Festival (€500), Scotia Ensemble (€700), In-sites/On Cheapach Exhibition (€500). Individual Artist Awards in this area went to Cormac Lawlor (€750) for Creative Work Development and to Catherine Young (€1,800) for Further Arts Education. In recommending the arts funding awards, the Mayor of Kerry Councillor John Sheahan stated “These awards support good practice and standards in the arts and help to communicate the very real appreciation of the hard work and dedication of practitioners all over the County. The Elected Members of Kerry County Council know that the arts help keep areas vibrant and are delighted to be able to reward artistic endeavour and the very vital role that it plays in the county’s cultural development”.
Recipients of the Arts Act Grants in Listowel Municipal District include Féile Feabhra, Féile Cheoil, Lixnaw (€300), Fís na hÓige Production Lixnaw (€500), Ballydonoghue Bardic Festival (€250), MOYA Festival, Ballybunion. An Artist in Retreat ward of €600 was made to Bartholomew Brosnan and a Creative Work Development Awards were made two Kerry arts professionals Noel McElligott (€1,250) and Lisa Fingleton (€1,000)
Individual Artist Awards in the South & West Municipal District went to Simon Ó Faoláin for Artist In Retreat (€600), Materials and Equipment Bursaries went to musician Gábor Pèli (€700) and visual artist Rochelle Lucey (€700). A Creative Work Development Bursary was awarded to Samuel Laurence Cunnane (€1,000). Artists In Schools Bursaries of €1,000 in this area went to Presentation Secondary School, Milltown, Scoil Dar Earca, Ballyhearney and Fybough National School, Castlemaine.
Other awards were made to the Killarney and South Kerry regions .
