Momentum Matters: Why now is the time to look ahead

There’s a lot of good news floating around the Irish visual arts world right now.

First up: the Basic Income for Artists scheme has been extended until February 2026. This is incredible for artists currently receiving the support and also for everyone else. Those in the control group continue their vital role in shaping this scheme, and you, as an artist, still have a chance to use available channels to advocate for the basic income for artists to become permanent. Tides are shifting.

There’s more….

Successful Visual Artist Bursary results have been arriving in inboxes and the Agility Awards are just around the corner. Add that to the seasonal uptick in summer art sales, soon to be followed by the typical autumn/winter increase in collector activity and one clear question arises:

Are you ready?

If your answer is a confident yes, fantastic!

But if your answer is no, we need to talk.

Because readiness isn’t just about reacting to opportunities that land, it’s about planning for the ones that don’t and what comes next after the ones that do. Whether you receive the funding or not, whether your exhibition pitch is successful or not, you need to be looking around the next bend in the road.

Momentum is Everything

If things didn’t go to plan, maybe the funding didn’t come through or the gallery said no, of course you’re going to feel disappointed. That’s normal. Let yourself feel it but don’t stay stuck there.

On the flip side, if you did get the opportunity you were waiting for, don’t let it distract you from everything else or fixate only on the timeline of that one event. Opportunities are part of a bigger picture.

Keep Moving Forward

Didn’t get the exhibition?
📌 Implement your contingency plan now. Don’t wait.

Got the bursary?
🎯 Amazing. Get going on your funded project AND start planning for what’s next, too.

You hold the power to fuel your own momentum. Don’t wait for the next opportunity to come knocking, go out and meet it.

Look up. Look out. Look ahead.

Want help figuring out what’s next? I’ve got space for a few free calls this month. Click HERE to grab onw

---