162 NI artists to benefit from £1 million career-development funding

More than 160 artists from across Northern Ireland will benefit from funding of more than £1 million.

The funding, which is part of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s National Lottery Project Funding for Individual Artists (PFIA) scheme, supports artists across all art forms who are at various stages of their careers, including emerging artists.

The grants will be used towards innovation and experimentation in their new projects.

Among them is aerialist artist Patricia Cowan, who will be awarded £9,323 to create an acrobatic work entitled Bound by Borders: A Northern Irish Rope Journey by ‘Woven’.

Fermanagh writer Sheila Llewellyn has been awarded £6,000 to compose a new novel, and Newry-born singer-songwriter and musician Brona McVittie will use her funding of £6,809 for the creation of a book entitled A Way With The Fairies, due for release in spring 2026, and an accompanying album, Supernatural.

Aerial artist Yaroslava Navrotska from Belfast will receive £3,623 for the creation of two new acts, Londonderry singer-songwriter Aoife Boyle (Reevah) will use her £9,000 to develop her second album, and writer Paul McVeigh from Belfast will receive £9,000 to develop a book featuring a collection of stories called I Feel You.

Noirin McKinney, director of arts development at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said: “The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is thrilled to announce more than £1 million in funding for 162 exceptional artists based in Northern Ireland, through our National Lottery Project Funding for Individual Artists scheme.

“These grants, worth up to £10,000 each, provide artists with the financial means to take their professional, artistic careers to that all-important next level.

“The programme also supports innovation and experimentation and addresses the need for on-going skills development and training that lies within the arts sector in Northern Ireland, and we are excited to see their projects develop in the year ahead.”