Arts Council’s Digital Artist in Residence Program at University of Galway (Ireland)

Deadline: 11-Sep-2026

The Arts Council Digital Artist in Residence programme at the University of Galway is inviting applications from mid-career and established digital artists based in the Republic of Ireland. The six-month residency provides an €18,000 artist fee, workspace, studio access, and opportunities to develop digital art while engaging with students, staff, and the wider creative community. The programme is delivered by the Arts Council in partnership with the Centre for Creative Technologies at University of Galway and is designed to support research, experimentation, creative development, and knowledge-sharing across digital arts and technology. What Is the Digital Artist in Residence Programme? The Digital Artist in Residence programme provides an established digital artist with dedicated time, resources, and access to university facilities to develop their creative practice. The residency is based within the Centre for Creative Technologies at University of Galway, creating opportunities for artists to work alongside researchers, students, staff, and other creative practitioners. The programme supports artistic practices that actively engage with:

Additional commitment: Up to four hours per week for outreach and knowledge-sharing

Why Does This Residency Matter? Digital art increasingly intersects with artificial intelligence, data, software, immersive technologies, online culture, and emerging forms of creative practice. The residency creates a space where an experienced digital artist can explore these developments while contributing to the creative environment of a university. The programme is particularly valuable because it combines: The artist remains primarily focused on their own creative work rather than being employed as a formal university teacher. Who Is Eligible? The residency is intended for mid-career and established digital artists who meet the programme’s requirements.

Applicants must:

Be a digital artist with an established track record. Be based in the Republic of Ireland. Have professional experience in digital arts. Demonstrate a practice that engages meaningfully with digital tools, technologies, or cultures. Be able to undertake the six-month residency during the specified period. Be willing to participate in outreach and knowledge-sharing activities. Develop a proposal that is appropriate for the Centre for Creative Technologies and its available infrastructure. The Arts Council encourages applications from artists who reflect the diversity of Irish society. What Counts as Digital Art? Digital art is broadly understood in this programme as artistic practice that directly engages with digital tools, technologies, platforms, or cultures. Artists do not necessarily need to work within one specific technological category. The key consideration is the meaningful relationship between the proposed artistic research and digital technology or culture. What Does the Residency Provide? €18,000 Artist Fee The selected artist will receive an €18,000 fee, paid in two instalments during the residency. This provides financial support for the artist’s participation and creative practice during the six-month programme. Workspace and Studio Access

The University of Galway will provide:

Desk space. Shared studio access. Access to relevant facilities within the Centre for Creative Technologies. The available infrastructure can support research and development connected with digital artistic practices. Administrative Support The University of Galway will provide administrative support to help facilitate the residency. Creative and Academic Environment The artist will work within a university environment that can encourage interaction with: Students. Academic staff. Researchers. Digital practitioners. Creative communities. This creates opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange. Residency Timeline The residency lasts six months during the 2026/27 academic year. The start date will be agreed with the successful artist but must fall between: November 1, 2026, and January 1, 2027. The residency must be completed by the end of June 2027. Applicants should therefore ensure that they can make the necessary time commitment during this period. What Is Expected From the Selected Artist? The artist’s primary responsibility is to develop their own creative practice and proposed research. In addition, the artist is expected to dedicate up to four hours per week to engagement activities. These activities are designed to share the artist’s knowledge and experience with the university community. The engagement requirement does not involve formal teaching or assessed curriculum delivery. How the Residency Works The programme can be understood through four main components:

Creative research: The artist develops new ideas, experiments, or research within their digital practice.

Technical access: The artist uses relevant university facilities and shared studio resources.

Community engagement: The artist shares knowledge with students, staff, and the wider creative community.

Professional development: The university environment provides opportunities for collaboration, exchange, and new connections.

The artist’s own creative practice remains the central focus. How to Prepare an Application Applicants should develop a proposal that clearly explains their artistic practice and how the residency would contribute to its development. A strong application should clearly communicate:

Who you are: Explain your professional background and experience as a digital artist.

What you create: Describe your artistic practice and relationship with technology.

What you want to explore: Clearly identify the research or creative development you want to undertake.

Why Galway: Explain why the Centre for Creative Technologies and University of Galway environment are relevant to your project.

How you will use the facilities: Identify how the available infrastructure could support your