The National Gallery of Ireland's Sarah Cecilia Harrison Essay Prize 2026 invites new research and writing that explores the history of women in Ireland’s visual culture.
Now in its fifth year, the prize honours the legacy of Sarah Cecilia Harrison (1863–1941), an accomplished artist and curator who also campaigned for social reform and women’s rights in Ireland.
The competition recognises original essays exploring the contributions and experiences of women in Ireland’s visual culture, including fine art, design and craft.
Harrison’s own career provides an important context for the prize. The National Gallery of Ireland acquired the Sarah Cecilia Harrison archive in 2019, including more than 400 letters from Sir Hugh Lane to Harrison dating from 1905 to 1915. The archive provides an insight into the artistic and social world in which the two figures lived and worked.
The Sarah Cecilia Harrison Essay Prize is open to members of the public aged 18 and over, making it an opportunity for writers and researchers both within and beyond the academic community.
The competition provides a platform for new research and perspectives that can contribute to a broader understanding of women’s roles and achievements within Ireland’s visual culture.
The author of the winning essay will receive a €1,000 prize at a special reception at the National Gallery of Ireland on 18 November 2026.
The prize is generously supported by descendants of Beatrice Chisholm, Sarah Cecilia Harrison’s sister, helping to continue Harrison’s legacy and encourage further research into women’s contribution to Ireland’s artistic and cultural history.
Email your entry to scharrisonessayprize@ngi.ie before midnight (IST) on Friday 18 September 2026.
Find out more about the Sarah Cecilia Harrison Essay Prize 2026 and the opportunity to contribute new research and writing on women and Ireland’s visual culture.
https://www.nationalgallery.ie/what-we-do/library-and-archives/sarah-cecilia-harrison-essay-prize?mc_cid=e9cee28036&mc_eid=a7235c1838
