Calling All Scheming Artists

Salvador Dali meets his public 1963. Colourised by GG.

atest press release from Wicklow County Council, issued on Tuesday, January 10th 2023…

Wicklow County Council Arts Office invites applications for 2023 Arts Act Funding, designed to support artists, arts festivals, arts participation and art form development across Wicklow.

Open from Monday 9th January 2023, this scheme forms part of a wider set of actions initiated and developed by Wicklow County Council directed at supporting quality practice and public participation in the arts in the county. The deadline to apply is Monday 27th February 2023 at 4pm.

This year Wicklow Arts Office will be accepting applications for the Artist Award Scheme, Artist & Community Collaboration Award Scheme and Arts Festival Award Scheme. Applications are welcome from all art forms including film, music, visual arts, theatre, dance, literature, architecture, animation, performance, circus, traditional arts, music and drama.

The Artist Award Scheme has supported professional artists to develop and realise a particular body of work or undertake professional development. Open to artists at all stages of their careers that reside in or are native to County Wicklow, professional artists working in any art form, discipline or genre are eligible to apply.

Artist Ali Clarke, a recipient of the Artist Award last year, said that the Scheme “has played a central role in my recent career and allowed me to invest in developing art in rural areas, decentralising the creation and dissemination of my work.”

The Artist & Community Collaboration Award Scheme is designed to support artist and community collaboration in any discipline or genre of the arts to co-create a high-quality project or programme which will support both the artist’s and the community’s creative development.

In 2022 Casey Hallahan, Managing Director Mr Sands Youth Theatre, took on an ambitious film project, devised by the young members in collaboration with the artists. Casey stated that “thanks in no small part to the Award we were able to continue make fantastic original work.”

The Arts Festival Awards Scheme was created to support the production and commissioning of new work for Festivals, to enable the engagement of professional artists or ensembles as part of the Festival line-ups, to enhance audience development and public engagement or to assist with the development of new strategies or approaches to the delivery of Festivals in Wicklow.

Aoife Demel, YARN Storytelling Festival Curator, explained that the funding enabled them to bring “the art form of storytelling out of Bray and to audiences across County Wicklow for the first time. Connections were forged with local storytelling groups and artists, which will hopefully lead to further exciting creative projects.”

Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, Mr Brian Gleeson, welcomes the return of the Arts Act Funding scheme which enables Wicklow County Council to continue to support of Wicklow artists, communities, and festivals to showcase ambition, innovation, and excellence in the Arts.

Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Tommy Annesley, said: “the purpose of these awards is to enhance an aspect of an artist’s work, support an artist and community collaboration, or strengthen the development of Arts festival in County Wicklow for example.”

All applications must be submitted through Submittable, an online submission management platform. Downloadable guidelines relating to each scheme and further information can be found here. Questions relating to the application process can be directed to [email protected].

The closing date for applications is Monday 27th February 2023 at 4pm.

And, hey, sometimes it’s all about who you know, baby.