Applications are now open for the 2026 Musician-in-Residence Programme at King House in Boyle, County Roscommon, a unique professional development opportunity for musicians who are autistic or people with autism.
Presented by Music Network in partnership with Roscommon Arts Office and supported by King House, Roscommon County Council, the Bank of Ireland Community Fund, Community Foundation Ireland and the Tomar Trust, the residency aims to provide a significant opportunity for an established professional musician to develop their artistic practice in an inclusive and supportive environment.
The selected Musician-in-Residence will receive a bursary of €8,000 and access to a dedicated workspace at King House during October and November 2026. The residency is designed to provide time and space for creative development, allowing the musician to focus on creating new work, developing artistic collaborations and advancing their professional practice.
Alongside their creative work, the resident musician will engage with the local community through a programme of inclusive music activities developed in collaboration with an experienced outreach coordinator. The residency will conclude with a live concert presentation of the musician’s work.
The initiative builds on previous residencies created specifically for professional musicians who are autistic or people with autism. In 2024, Patrick Stefan became the first Musician-in-Residence through a partnership between Music Network and St. John’s Theatre and Arts Centre in Listowel. In 2025, Dylan Howe, known professionally as Hánt, undertook a residency at Ionad Cultúrtha in Baile Mhúirne, County Cork.
Reflecting on his experience, Howe said:
“I think this residency is an amazing initiative for autistic artists. A key success was sharing music with kids with autism, as I feel it inspired a few of them to possibly take up music, and for me, music has been a saviour, especially when I was younger and wasn't fitting in. Music was always there and I could express myself through it.”
Music Network CEO Sharon Rollston welcomed the continuation of the programme, describing it as an opportunity not only to support an autistic musician but also to gain valuable insights that can help improve accessibility and inclusion across the wider music sector.
Roscommon County Council Arts Officer Rhona McGrath highlighted the value of the partnership, noting that the residency responds to an important need while supporting the council’s commitment to nurturing artists and promoting the arts through diverse programmes and collaborations.
An online information session for musicians interested in applying will take place via Zoom on Tuesday 23 June at 11am.
Applications are now open, with a deadline of Thursday 9 July 2026 at 2pm.
Further information, application guidelines and registration for the information session are available from Music Network.
For more information visit:
https://www.musicnetwork.ie/whats-on/music-network-and-roscommon-arts-office-musician-in-residence-programme-at-king-house
