New initiative supports aspiring young performers through professional acting training.
Kerry International Film Festival and West End House School of Arts launch fully funded acting scholarship for young people
June 12, 2026
KILLARNEY, CO. KERRY – Kerry International Film Festival (KIFF), in partnership with West End House School of Arts, recently launched a new Acting Scholarship Programme for young people.
The program is facilitated by West End House School of Arts and funded by Kerry International Film Festival through an anonymous donation specifically ring-fenced for this initiative.
The initiative provides access to high-quality creative training for young people aged 15 – 18 from underserved communities – including LGBTQ+, Traveller, immigrant communities, and Youth Justice participants – in a supportive and professional environment.
Now midway through the course, which runs until June 30th at West End House, the 10-week programme offers participants the opportunity to develop acting and writing skills, build confidence through performance, and work toward a professionally recorded monologue.
A small cohort of participants was selected through a video application process to ensure a focused and committed creative group. Now, nearly halfway through the course, the participants are having an excellent experience, with one student commenting, “It’s the only place I’ve ever felt like I belong.”
The course facilitator, experienced tutor and actor Charlie Hughes says of this programme, “We all deserve a chance to explore the arts and hopefully we are in a position to provide that for these young people.”
As part of the program, the students will receive professionally filmed self-tapes suitable for auditions and acting reels, professional headshots, a certificate of completion as well as mentorship and collaborative creative experience in a safe and inclusive environment
The programme will conclude with a celebration event where participants can share their work with family and friends.
Speaking about the initiative, representatives from KIFF and West End House said the scholarship was created to help remove barriers to arts participation and create meaningful opportunities for young people who may not otherwise have access to professional creative training.
“This programme is about confidence, creativity, discipline, and giving young people the opportunity to feel seen and heard through storytelling,” the organisers said. “We hope participants leave not only with new acting skills, but with a stronger belief in their own voice and potential.”
While the scholarship is not positioned as a pathway to fame, it is designed to provide participants with practical tools, creative confidence, and an experience they can take pride in.
