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The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, today announced the 10 new recipients of the Decade of Centenaries Markievicz Award bursary scheme for artists.  The Markievicz Award is intended to support artists to develop their craft and ultimately produce great art that recognises and commemorates the role of women in the historical period covered by the Decade of Centenaries and beyond.

The 10 awards announced today are to the artists Zoë Ashe-Browne (Dance), Barbara Bergin (Theatre), Ursula Burke (Visual Arts), Gemma Dunleavy (Music), Eleanor Hooker (Literature - English), Oonagh Kearney (Film), Louise Mulcahy (Traditional Arts), Zoe Ní Riordáin (Theatre), Jennifer Thorp (Literature - English) and Eimear Walshe (Visual Arts).

As announced by the Minister in December, awards under the scheme will be made each year in the period 2021-2023 to up to 10 artists (either individual artists working alone or in collaboration with others) – double the amount of previous years to a value of €25k per individual or group, an increase on €20k in previous years. The Department is partnering with the Arts Council on the administration of the scheme. 

Minister Martin said: “I am delighted to announce the awards today under this significantly enhanced scheme for the Markievicz Award for the period 2021-2023.  The Award continues to both honour Constance de Markievicz – herself an artist – and to provide support for artists from all backgrounds and genres in producing new work that reflects on the role of women in the period covered by the centenary commemorations and beyond.  2021 is the third year of this successful scheme and I am particularly committed to supporting and sustaining artists in this meaningful way during the on-going public health emergency caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.”

The significant increase in both the value and the number of awards made annually will support the Minister’s on-going efforts under the Decade of Centenaries 2012-2023 programme to highlight and raise awareness of the role of women during the revolutionary period and beyond.

Minister Martin said:“It is important that the role of women continues to be highlightedfor the remainder of the Decade of Centenaries.  I look forward to seeing the progress of the artists and the new work produced as an outcome of these awards - both elements will contribute to the discourse on the vital role of women in the first 100 years of our Independence.”

ENDS