Kildare County Council Arts Service and MERITS announce exciting arts residency

Applications are now open for the VECTOR Digital Arts Residency 2026

Kildare County Council Arts Service, in partnership with MERITS Innovation Thinkspace, announces the launch of the VECTOR Digital Arts Residency 2026.

This unique extraordinary opportunity invites a digital artist to innovate, experiment and and push the boundaries of art and technology. 

In addition to local resources and mentoring, the selected artist will also secure an exclusive place on The Performance Corporation’s internationally renowned SPACE Programme during Summer/Autumn 2026, providing a platform to connect with creative peers from around the world.   

Building on the success of its pilot programme, VECTOR returns to support a professional artist either from or based in County Kildare who is critically engaging with the crossover between art and technology.

The residency aims to nurture creativity, foster collaboration, and strengthen the digital arts sector, by providing resources and mentorship to develop new work or advance professional practice. 

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What’s on offer? 

• €5,000 Digital Artist Residency Bursary 

• Desk space at MERITS Innovation Thinkspace, Naas (value d at €1,800+) 

• 20+ hours in MERITS Content LAB for experimentation (valued at €500+) 

• Bespoke mentoring with Jo Mangan, Artistic Director of The Performance Corporation 

• A place on The Performance Corporation’s International SPACE Programme (Summer/Autumn 2026) (valued at €5,000+) 

• Mentoring from Kildare Arts Service 

• Access to MERITS Creative Cluster masterclasses and clinics in UX/UI, marketing, branding, and more 

• Exhibition space at MERITS during the residency 

Eligibility: 
Professional artists working in any art form whose practice engages with digital technologies such as AI, VR, AR, or other emerging tools. Applicants must be based in or originally from County Kildare. 

How to Apply:   
Applications must be submitted online by 12pm, Thursday, January 8 2026. 

Apply here: https://kildarecocoarts.submit.com//show/391

For further information, contact 
Kildare Arts Service | T: 045 980872 | E: arts@kildarecoco.ie

This residency aligns with Kildare County Council’s Arts Strategy 2023–2027 and The Arts Council’s Digital Arts Policy 2023–2025, supporting innovation, critical discourse, and strengthening the creative tech ecosystem in County Kildare.  

Join us in shaping the future of digital arts.  

The VECTOR Digital Arts Residency is supported by MERITS and funded by Kildare Arts Service with grant aid from The Arts Council of Ireland.