Artists’ bursary commemorates Constance Markievicz

Winners of a new bursary scheme for artists, which was announced to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Constance Markievicz’s appointment as Minister for Labour in the First Dáil, have been revealed.

The Arts Council oversaw administration of the award scheme and received 107 applications earlier this year.

The winners are a mix of writers, dancers, and theatre makers: Sibeal Davitt, Isadora Epstein, Claire Kilroy, Louise Lowe, and, working in collaboration, Annemarie Ní Churreáin, Kimberley Campanello, and Dimitra Xidous.

When the bursary was announced last November, it was anticipated that applications would open in mid-January, with awards being announced by May.

However, the process was delayed due to concerns that, being confined to women, the bursary might be in contravention of equality laws. In January, the department said all legal issues were being considered.

“The delay is not attributable to any single issue but rather is a result of the process of finalising all details not yet being complete,” said a spokesperson then.

In a statement yesterday, a Department spokesperson said the award was not confined to women.

“Gauging by the given names of the applicants, there appear to have been several males among their number under the scheme this year,” she said. “However, applicants were not requested or required to identify their gender and males did not ultimately feature among the top-rated applications on this occasion.”

The bursary scheme honours Ms Markievicz — herself an artist — and provides support for artists from all backgrounds and genres in producing work that reflects on the role of women in the period covered by the centenary commemorations. She was the first female cabinet minister in Europe.

The bursaries are intended to improve the representation of the roles, experiences and ambition of women via original work in a variety of art forms.

Culture Minister Josepha Madigan said it is important to her that the award will go on as long as possible:.

“There’s a great reflection in the winners of artistic pursuits,” she said. “It’ll be interesting to see what other avenues and areas we see in the future.

“Madame de Markievicz was an iconic pioneer, but just one of many formidable women of her era whose stories are still being revealed to us. The theme of these bursaries serve as a further reminder that we still have a way to travel on the road to full equality in Irish political life.”

Future awards will be made each year to up to five artists or writers. The scheme will open for submissions again early in 2020.