2026 Artist Mentoring Award Recipients Announced

Create is delighted to announce the recipients of the 2026 Artist Mentoring Award.

This award sits within a suite of offerings under the Artist in the Community (AIC) Scheme. Now in its fifth year, it aims to offer capacity building and arts practice development for collaborative socially engaged artists, and artists who are transitioning into this field.

For the five selected artists, the award offers an eight-month period of capacity building and arts practice development through dialogue with an experienced collaborative socially engaged artist mentor.

Artist Geraldine Timlin will be mentored by Deirdre O’Mahony on developing project ideas within a participatory context, managing group dynamics, and navigating ethical considerations when working in place-based settings.

Grainne Dowling, artist, foley editor and sound designer, will be supported by mentorship by Seamus Nolan, particularly in strategising a cohesive plan and consistent practice that integrates her values of community involvement and accessibility with her professional and artistic skillset into a solid foundation for this type of work.

Collaborative artist Róisín O Meadhra will receive mentorship from Silvina Sisterna, in order to address co-ownership of project between artist and community, in particular in developing work with visually impaired and blind people.

Tanya Bridgeman, theatre maker, writer, actor and facilitator will work with mentor Grace Dyas, focusing on how to navigate the ethical, structural and relational complexities of this work; developing sustainable methodologies that centre care, consent and equity, particularly when working with personal or sensitive material.

Yves Santos, dance artist, teacher and choreographer will be mentored by Feidlim Cannon on developing a stronger collaborative methodology, structuring projects with clear artistic aims, deepening the connection between dialogue and movement, and creating processes that allow collaborators to engage more fully.

The group will also receive support from group mentor Dr Sinead McCann.

All mentors and mentees will explore central elements of collaborative socially engaged practice, including collaborative methodologies, outreach, sustaining relationships with communities, evaluation, and more. Create’s Mentoring Award is funded through the Artist in the Community (AIC) Scheme, managed by Create on a devolved basis for the Arts Council.

The panel which determined this award was chaired by Aine Crowley, Programme Manager Arts and Engagement, and consisted of Aisling Byrne, artist and theatre maker, Kate O’Shea, multi-disciplinary artist, researcher, and publisher and Ruairí Donovan, language activist and choreographer.  Tatiana Dos Santos, AIC Scheme Development Officer, observed and took minutes.