Aosdána (the Cnuas)
The Cnuas is €20,180 a year, granted for a five year term and renewable. It is paid to Aosdána members who apply for it and meet the conditions, not to every member automatically. Membership itself carries no payment.
Last checked September 2026
What it is
Aosdána is an affiliation of established Irish artists in literature, visual art, music, architecture and choreography, capped at 250 members. Members can apply for the Cnuas, an annual payment of €20,180 granted for a five year term, to let them work full-time at their art. YOU CANNOT APPLY TO JOIN. Membership is by peer nomination and election only, and the Arts Council states that unsolicited applications for membership are not accepted.
Who can get it
- You are already a member of Aosdána. Only members can apply for the Cnuas
- To be elected a member in the first place, an artist must have created a significant body of work and have been resident in Ireland for at least five years
- Your income from sources other than your art is below a threshold the Arts Council sets. The figure is not published, it comes with the guidelines from the Registrar
- THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN APPLY FOR. The Arts Council's own wording: membership of Aosdána is by peer nomination and election, not by application, and unsolicited applications for membership are not accepted. Any member may nominate an artist, and another member must second it.
- There are at most 250 members. While the ceiling has not been reached, no more than ten new members are elected each year, plus however many places death or resignation has freed up.
- A member can apply for the Cnuas at any time. There is no deadline and no round. You request the form and guidelines from the Registrar.
- The Cnuas guidelines are not published online, only supplied by the Registrar, so the exact income conditions are not something we can state here.
- IT CLASHES WITH BASIC INCOME FOR THE ARTS. Aosdána members already getting the Cnuas were explicitly ineligible for the Basic Income for the Arts scheme, so you cannot hold both.
- Membership lasts for life unless you resign. It covers literature, visual arts, music, architecture and choreography.
How to apply
Applications go through Arts Council. The official page has the full eligibility rules and the application itself.
Go to the official page →Checked against the official source on 12 September 2026. Always confirm the details on the official page before applying.
Questions people ask
How do I apply to join Aosdána?
You cannot. The Arts Council states that membership is by peer nomination and election, not by application, and that unsolicited applications for membership are not accepted. An existing member has to nominate you and a second member has to second it.
How much is the Cnuas worth?
€20,180 a year, granted for a five year term. It is paid to members who apply for it and meet the conditions, so it is not automatic on election.
Can I get the Cnuas and Basic Income for the Arts together?
No. Aosdána members in receipt of the Cnuas were listed as not eligible for the Basic Income for the Arts scheme.
How many people are in Aosdána?
A maximum of 250 members at any time. While that ceiling is unmet, no more than ten new members are elected a year plus the vacancies left by members who have died or resigned.
Related guides
- Music Generation
- Night-Time Economy Grassroots Venue Support Scheme
- Sound & Vision (broadcasting funding)
- Section 481 Film Tax Credit
- Per Cent for Art Scheme
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