Applications are now being invited for the 2025 Ted & Mary O’Regan Arts Bursary. The Bursary was inaugurated in 2004 to honour the memory of one of Waterford’s best loved and respected couples who, together, made an enduring and extraordinary contribution to the cultural life of the city. The purpose of the Award is to assist an individual or individuals, either from or with a strong connection to Waterford City or County, to pursue and develop their chosen arts discipline.

Applicants should note that the criteria for the Bursary are open and flexible and that people of all ages may apply. Whilst the Bursary has, in the past facilitated recipients to attend a third level arts course, this is not a pre-requisite. The Award will aim to fill the financial gap which prohibits an arts worker or arts student of any age or any arts discipline achieving their artistic goal.

 

The Bursary’s primary sponsor is Waterford City and County Council.  The Bursary is also funded by Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford Youth Arts, Spraoi, and the Theatre Royal and by individual contributions from friends, associates and family of the late Ted and Mary O’Regan. Together, these organizations and individuals have enabled the awards committee to offer local artists more than €130,000 in support of their activities since the foundation of the Bursary.

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The Waterford Panto Society’s sponsorship of a dedicated Musical Theatre Bursary marks an exciting new addition to this year’s bursary offerings. As Waterford’s longest running and most beloved traditional Christmas entertainment celebrates its 40th anniversary, the introduction of this bursary underscores the Society’s deep commitment to nurturing local talent and supporting the next generation of musical theatre artists.

Anne Corcoran Brown, chairperson of the Waterford Panto Society, emphasized the significance of this initiative, highlighting the Society’s pride in seeing past members achieve success in theatre and expressing their desire to “push that happiness a little further” by providing meaningful support to emerging artists. This bursary is specifically designed to give local talent a boost at any stage of their journey, making it a particularly exciting opportunity for those passionate about musical theatre.

The collaboration with the Ted and Mary O’Regan Bursary Committee adds further prestige and reach to this year’s awards. Bertie Rogers, Chairperson of the O’Regan Bursary Committee, welcomed this partnership, noting that it enhances the committee’s ongoing mission to support Waterford artists across creative disciplines. The inclusion of the Musical Theatre Bursary in the 40th anniversary year is a testament to the vibrant arts community in Waterford and promises to make this year’s bursary round especially noteworthy for aspiring musical theatre performers.

 

Applications for the new Bursary, along with the existing Ted & Mary O’Regan Bursary, are now open. Further information and application forms are available on the links below. The closing date for the receipt of applications is Friday, May 30th at 5.30pm.
Award Winners to be announced in the Summer 2025. The bursary is an opportunity for a Waterford person to develop their creative talent. The criteria for this award are very open and flexible - people of all ages may apply. All information and application form can be found below through the links provided.
Other means of contact and information: www.facebook.com/TedAndMaryOReganArtsBursary info@waterfordyoutharts.com ollie@waterfordyoutharts.com Telephone 051-879377

TED AND MARY O’REGAN ARTS BURSARY 2025 INFORMATION SHEET HERE : 

TED AND MARY O’REGAN ARTS BURSARY 2025 APPLICATION FORM HERE: