Opportunity: Portal Documentation Award 2026

Arts in Education Portal Documentation Award 2026
Deadline: 11 March 2026, 5pm

The Arts in Education Portal team is pleased to invite applications for a documentation award. Through the award, successful applicants will receive services to the value of €5,000 that will support them in the documentation of a current or upcoming project and a €500 stipend.

The purpose of the award is to support the development of documented outcomes from Arts in Education initiatives in Ireland, which can be shared with the arts in education community and give insights into different processes of engagement. This is part of the Arts in Education Portal Editorial Committee’s commitment to supporting and recognising the value of documentation and reflection as key components within arts in education initiatives.

Two awards will be offered through this opportunity.

Outcomes of the documentation process will include: a project video, a project feature to be showcased on the Portal’s Projects/Partnerships, and the option of a critical essay, with a view to also presenting the work as part of the Arts in Education Portal National Day in 2026.

The process will involve meetings with the Portal team and a schedule of up to 2 visits over the course of the project to capture video and photographic documentation and support reflective processes among participants.
The Portal team will edit and produce a project video and will liaise closely with the project partners to develop the content for the project feature. The critical essay would be cited in the Portal’s Reading Room and is optional. The author and focus of the essay can be decided by the project organisers in collaboration with the Portal team.

Criteria:
To be considered for this opportunity, projects must:

• Have started in Autumn 2025 and continue into 2026, or take place in January to June 2026. Please note if selected, filming of engagement sessions will take place after 31st March 2026.
• Have a minimum duration of 8 weeks.
• Involve a professional artist working collaboratively within an educational setting (early years, primary or post-primary).
• Be underpinned by a strong ethos of collaboration and a commitment to excellence. Focus on the creative process, with children having an active and collaborative role.

Additional criteria:
Successful applicants will be asked to ensure that relevant permissions/consent have been sought for the documentation of participants.
Please ensure your application has been approved by all project partners prior to submission.

How to make a submission:
Complete your application using this online google form
Deadline for submission is 5pm, Wednesday 11 March 2026.
For more information, please contact editor@artsineducation.ie

Watch previous Documentation Award project videos on artsineducation.ie/en/our-videos