Description
The Linen Hall invites applications from writers for the inaugural Andrew Gibson Collection of Robert Burns Bursary aimed at the development and creation of new work inspired by the collection.
The Bursary is funded through the Ulster-Scots Agency and The Linen Hall to commemorate Andrew Gibson, a former Governor of The Linen Hall and prolific collector of Burns material, whose Gibson Collection, bought by public subscription and placed in the library, is a cornerstone of The Linen Hall’s collections.
Applicants must be available to access the Gibson Collection. The bursary is for a total of £2,500 and funded work must take place between October and December 2026.
The Linen Hall and the Ulster-Scots Agency must be acknowledged in any work created or developed with the support of the bursary.
About Andrew Gibson
Born in Ayrshire in 1841, Andrew Gibson spent most of his life in Belfast, coming to the city with his family in the 1880s when he was appointed as an agent for George and James Burns Ltd.
Until his retirement, Gibson was personally responsible for all matters pertaining to the extensive passenger and goods shipping of the firm. By 1910 Gibson was the Belfast agent for both Burns and Cunard lines. The family lived at 14 Cliftonville Avenue in north Belfast until 1911, when they moved to a house called Fairfield at Lansdowne Road.
Beyond his work, Gibson had many interests and contributed in a variety of ways to the social and cultural life of his adopted city, including The Linen Hall. He was a Governor of the library from 1894 to 1927 and played an active role in the institution. Among other works, Gibson was instrumental in the revival of the Ulster Journal of Archaeology, organising the second Belfast Harp Festival in 1903 and the Belfast Shakespeare Festival in 1905. He also served as President and Vice President of the Belfast Burns Club, where he was well known for his papers on literary subjects, and as an office bearer with the Belfast Scottish Association and the Belfast Benevolent Society of St Andrew.
The great Burns collection that Gibson built is one of the largest in the world outside of Scotland and one of our great cultural treasures.
Bursary objective
To celebrate the Gibson Collection of Robert Burns and to support the development of new poetry inspired by it.
To apply
Applicants must include in their application an outline of the proposed work and their reasons for applying for this bursary, in particular the influence of Robert Burns and his contemporaries and/or the Gibson Collection on their own work. (1000 words)
Please also include:
Applications should be submitted by email to Julie Andrews at info@linenhall.com
Please include Andrew Gibson Collection of Robert Burns Bursary in the subject line.
Criteria for selection
We aim to support poets from a variety of career stages, from emerging to established.
Summary of key dates
Applications Open:8 September 2026
Closing date for applications (extended): 7 October 2026 at 5.00pm
Applicants informed of outcome (extended): 19 October 2026
Eligibility
Applicants must be available to access the Gibson Collection at The Linen Hall. An artistic output in whatever format the poet chooses is required.
A maximum of one application will be accepted from any one individual.
No late applications will be accepted.
