Leitrim artist secures €20,000 Arts Council bursary for creative advancement
Natalia Beylis is a Ukrainian born, American raised composer now living in Leitrim. She has released over 40 albums between solo works and collaborations and has appeared on numerous compilations.
A Leitrim artist has been awarded €20,000 Arts Council Bursary, it was announced this week.
Natalia Beylis was awarded the funds in the music category in her order to develop her music which includes instruments such as organ and piano.
Natalia is a Ukrainian born, American raised composer now living in Leitrim. She has released over 40 albums between solo works and collaborations and has appeared on numerous compilations. Her music incorporates both traditional instruments such as pianos, organs, keyboards and mandola, as well as field recordings, tape collage and non-musical sound sources. For example, she recently released an album using just the sounds created by a domestic sewing machine.
The Bursary Award is one of the Arts Council’s key funding schemes, supporting individual artists to concentrate on developing their practice, research and new work. Each award, valued at up to €20,000, provides artists with the time and resources to focus on their creative process.
Recipients represent the full diversity of Ireland’s arts sector, working across visual arts, theatre, dance, literature, music, film, opera, architecture, circus, street arts, and traditional arts. Awards have been made in every county, as well as to artists based in Northern Ireland and internationally.
Maura McGrath, Chair of the Arts Council, said:
“The bursary awards are about giving artists the most precious resource they need — time. Time to think, to create, to experiment, and to develop their craft. These artists are working across an extraordinary range of disciplines, and their projects will have a lasting impact not only on their own practices but also on audiences and communities across Ireland and beyond.”
The Arts Council is the government agency for developing the arts in Ireland. The Bursary Award is offered in two rounds each year. This is Round 1 of the 2025 awards.