Backwater Artists Group is delighted to announce the recipients of the 2026 Bursary Awards, awarded in partnership with MTU Crawford College of Art & Design.

For over three decades, Backwater Artists Group has supported emerging artists through a dedicated bursary programme designed to assist graduates as they transition from art college into professional practice. Since 1990, the programme has provided studio access, mentorship, professional development opportunities, and connections to Cork’s wider visual arts community. To date, more than 130 artists have benefited from these awards.

We are pleased to announce this year’s recipients:

Ciarán Langford Memorial Bursary
Louise Clarke

Backwater Moving Image Bursary
Sarah Murphy

Backwater Artists Network Membership Awards
Eilis Kennedy
Rebecca Quinn Sweeney
Tara Fitzgerald
Claire Murphy
Ella O’Sullivan
Harrison Connolly

These awards recognise the talent, ambition, and potential of graduating artists and provide valuable support at an important stage in their creative development. Through studio access, membership opportunities, and professional engagement, the bursary programme aims to foster the next generation of artists and strengthen connections between emerging practitioners and the wider arts community.

We would like to congratulate all of this year’s award recipients and thank our long-standing partners at MTU Crawford College of Art & Design for their continued support of the programme.

We look forward to welcoming the awardees to Backwater Artists Group and supporting them as they embark on the next chapter of their artistic careers.