Course Bursaries 2024

The Irish Writers Centre is pleased to announce a new round of course bursaries for writers living on the island of Ireland, made possible with support from the Arts Council of Ireland. These bursaries will enable writers to develop their skills through funded places at Irish Writers Centre creative writing courses, and create access by subsidising costs to individuals who may not otherwise be able to take a course.

15 bursaries will be awarded to writers from backgrounds typically underrepresented in Irish Literature. Bursary recipients will receive course credit worth €165 towards a course at the IWC.

In keeping with Goal 2 of our 2022–2026 strategy, these schemes will enhance opportunities for people across all communities to participate in creative writing and enhance their writing practice.

About our Courses Bursaries support scheme

15 bursaries will be awarded to writers from backgrounds typically underrepresented in Irish Literature*. Bursary recipients will receive course credit worth €165 towards a course at the IWC.

The Irish Writers Centre facilitates up to 150 courses a year for writers at every stage of their career. We provide a range of in-person and online courses including novel writing, short story, poetry, and creative non-fiction. Browse our courses here.

*See Eligibility and Selection Criteria for more details on eligibility. 

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated by an external selection panel, with reference to the case made in your statement.

• These schemes are open only to writers aged eighteen or over who are living on the island of Ireland and are a part of an underrepresented background / community in the arts*.
• Applicants can apply for more than one support scheme as long as they are eligible under each individual scheme.
• If you have benefitted from this scheme in the last three years you are ineligible to apply. This is in the interest of benefitting as many Irish writers as possible.

*We are taking steps to promote equality of opportunity for all those living in Ireland, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, civil or family status, religion, age, disability, race or membership of the Traveller Community, as well as socio-economic background. These bursaries are specifically for writers from backgrounds typically underrepresented in the arts in Ireland: Minority ethnic, Black or Person of Colour, Disabled, LGBTQIA+, Member of the Travelling Community, Roma and Unwaged / Low-Income. 

Please note: Due to the volume of applicants we are not in a position to give individual feedback to applicants, unless they have been interviewed, depending on the scheme. This policy extends across all of our calls in the interests of equity and transparency, and because, as a small team, we don’t have the capacity to give individual responses.

How to Apply

About the Irish Writers Centre

As the leading support and development organisation for writers since 1991, the Irish Writers Centre carries out its work, online and in person, on an all-island basis. We work with writers of all types and talents, and actively encourage writers from all communities to engage in creative writing. We provide many ways and means for them to develop their skill, advance their ambitions and join a vibrant and diverse community of people who share their passion and purpose. We are also a membership organisation, always seeking new opportunities for members to grow as writers and to connect with each other through IWC programmes and supports.