Submissions are now open for the 2026 Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival Creative Bursaries, supported by Belfast City Council and Perspective Economics.

Established to nurture new and original work, the CQAF Creative Bursaries have become a vital platform for creative development across Northern Ireland, helping artists grow, experiment, and reach new audiences.

Among this year’s opportunities is the CQAF Music Bursary, created in association with Belfast City Council to support the composition and/or recording of a new piece of music by a Northern Ireland-based artist. Open to both emerging and established musicians and bands, twenty bursaries of £1,000 are available to support recording, composition and campaign costs.

Applications must include an overview of your creative practice, examples of your work and a brief budget outlining how you would use the funding. All materials should be sent in a single email to cqartsfestival@gmail.com with the subject line:

2026 Creative Bursary Application – [Your Name]

Deadline: 5pm, Friday 2nd January 2026
Notifications: Friday 13th February 2026

For full details and how to apply, visit here.