CQAF Music Bursary 2026
The Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival Music Bursary, in association with Belfast City Council, has been set up to support the composition and/ or recording of a new piece of music by a Northern Ireland-based artist. It is open to established or emerging musicians/bands.
20 Bursaries of £1,000 each are available.
To apply for the 2026 Creative Bursary, please send one email only containing all required materials. This helps us keep your application together and ensures it’s reviewed properly.
Your email must include:
An overview of your creative practice
-Tell us about your work, interests, and current projects.
Examples of your work
– You may attach audio files (MP3 preferred)
– or include web links to online portfolios, sound files, or videos.
Budget and project description
(Outline how you would use the bursary funding.) We wish to invest £1,000 into the composition and recording costs of your music. This could include an element of recording (eg. studio hire, engineering, mixing, mastering, session musician fees) and can also include campaign support / asset creation (video, photography, artwork design, manufacture and distribution costs, PR, marketing merchandise etc).
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Please send all of the above in a single email to cqartsfestival@gmail.com with the subject line: 2026 Creative Bursary Application – [Your Name]
Incomplete or multiple-email submissions may not be considered.
Deadline for Submissions: 5pm. Friday 2 January 2026.
Please note the applications will be judged in February 2026.
Notifications on the Friday 13 February 2026.
