New major Award for Visual Artists announced by Crawford Art Gallery Crawford Art Gallery announces the inaugural Gibson Travelling Fellowship Award, a significant initiative aimed at expanding international mobility and opportunities for professional visual artists. This €25,000 triennial award will offer a selected professional practicing visual artist with the means to travel abroad, engage with new artistic communities, and cultivate international relationships that will impact their creative practice.
Embodying one of Crawford Art Gallery’s core strategic priorities to support artists, the Gibson Travelling Fellowship Award acknowledges the need to replenish their creative practice in a self directed process of exploration, research, and connection. Assessed through an open submission process, the Gibson Travelling Fellowship Award is a legacy of one of the most significant gifts to Crawford Art Gallery. In 1919, Joseph Stafford Gibson (1837-1919) bequeathed his collections and a fund to enrich the holdings of Crawford Art Gallery and to provide a travel scholarship to talented artists from Munster, Ireland.
“We are thrilled to offer this opportunity in memory of Joseph Stafford Gibson, whose legacy is one of fostering artistic growth and global engagement,” said Mary McCarthy, Director of Crawford Art Gallery. “This award is a chance for talented artists to expand their horizons, connect with international networks, and bring fresh perspectives to their work.” She adds: ‘This award aims to foster cross-cultural collaborations that will not only elevate the individual artist but also contribute to the broader arts landscape in Ireland.”
The deadline for applications is 12:00pm, Wednesday 14 May 2025.
For more information on how to apply for the Gibson Travelling Fellowship Award, including eligibility, terms and conditions, visit www.crawfordartgallery.ie
More about Joseph Stafford Gibson
The Gibson Travelling Fellowship Award is a legacy of one of the most significant gifts to Crawford Art Gallery. In 1919, Joseph Stafford Gibson (1837-1919) bequeathed his collections and a fund to enrich the holdings of the gallery for ‘the furthering of art in the city of his boyhood.’ What became known as the Gibson Bequest, has since enriched Crawford Art Gallery’s collection, including iconic works by Muriel Brandt, Harry Clarke, Jacob Epstein, Seán Keating, John Lavery, Evie Hone, and Jack B. Yeats. As part of his bequest, Gibson sought to establish a travel scholarship for talented artists.
Originally awarded between the 1920s and 1950s, the Gibson Bequest supported the travel and artistic development of several Munster-based artists, including William Sheehan , Kathleen Murphy O’ Connor, Séamus Murphy, and Breda O’ Donoghue-Lucci, all of whom benefited from the scholarship to further their studies and practice abroad.
The new Gibson Travelling Fellowship Award aims to provide future generations of artists with the opportunity to gain international experience, expand their networks, and further their artistic development.