Creative Practitioner Residencies Westmeath

A partnership between Creative Ireland and Westmeath County Council

Deadline extended until Thursday 2 May 2024 at 5pm

Introduction

As part of Westmeath County Council’s Creative Ireland Programme for 2024, the Westmeath County Council Arts Office invites applications for creative practitioners in Westmeath to apply for our Creative Practitioner Residencies.

The Westmeath Creative Ireland Creative Practitioner Residency is a county-wide call to creative practitioners across all creative fields - including, but not limited to arts, heritage, literature, makers, dance, audio visual, music, theatre, circus. Three 12-week long residencies will be available for three creative practitioners across the creative sector.

The Residencies have a particular focus on engagement with a community in Westmeath to support the county's Creative Ireland Programme.

Context

The Creative Ireland Programme is an all-of-government initiative committed to enhancing access to, engagement with, and enjoyment of Ireland’s culture and creativity. The vision of the Creative Ireland Programme 2023 - 2027 is to mainstream creativity (arts, culture, heritage, or technology) in the life of the nation so that individually and collectively, in our personal lives and in our institutions, we can realise our full creative potential thereby promoting individual, community and national wellbeing.

Take a look at the Westmeath Culture and Creativity Strategic Plan 2023 - 2027.

Who can apply

The Creative Ireland Creative Practitioner Residencies is open to creative practitioners who are from Westmeath, and those who are living/working in Westmeath.

As part of this residency, successful applicants will be asked to develop a project which creates local awareness and understanding for their creative form.

Residency Details

The residency will be located in Westmeath on a part-time basis of 20 hours per week. This will allow time for 15 hours active engagement on a residency project, including preparation and planning, and 5 hours for creative practitioners' own creative practice.
Payment for the residency, inclusive of all travel and expenses, will be €700 per week for 12 weeks, with a total amount of €8,400 on offer to each selected resident.
Municipal spaces, including library rooms and other municipal spaces, will be available to creative practitioners to book for their own work development and community work where suitable.
This is a part-time residency, which will require flexible hours including evenings.

Selection Process

Applications will be assessed on the following criteria;

Quality, innovation, and creativity of the planned project. (25%)
Track record: Ability and expertise of the applicant to undertake and manage projects. (25%)
The feasibility and viability of project within the timeframe (budget, key milestones, clarity of approach). (25%)
Sustainability, growth potential of project beyond 2024. (25%)

How to Apply

Please complete the online application form. Submissions will receive email confirmation. If you do not receive email confirmation it is your responsibility to email or phone us to ensure that your submission has been successfully received.

The application form requires you to submit

CV
Three samples of previous work
Example of previous community-based work
Project Proposal, including;
- Breakdown of timeline including proposed start date
- Proposed community groups engaged

Applications must show how their project can fulfil at least one strategic priority of the Westmeath Culture & Creativity Strategy. Please see the Culture & Creativity Strategic Plan 2023-2027 for further details.

The closing date for submission is on or before 5pm, Thursday 2nd May 2024.

Terms & Conditions

It will be a condition of any application for funding under the terms and conditions of the Westmeath County Council Creative Ireland Open Call that the applicant has read, understood, and accepted the following:

Westmeath County Council shall not be liable to the applicant or any other party, in respect of any loss, damage or costs of any nature arising directly or indirectly from:
The application or the subject matter of the application.
The rejection for any reason of any application.

Westmeath County Council shall not be held responsible or liable, at any time in any circumstances, in relation to any matter whatsoever arising in connection with the administration of activities. In respect of monies provided by Westmeath County Council, the council does not undertake the role of ‘Client’ or ‘Employer’ as defined in the Safety, Health, and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
By submitting an application, applicants agree to the processing and disclosure of the applicant’s information by Westmeath County Council, and to other third parties if required, for Fund administration, reporting, evaluation and audit purposes; and successful applicants further consent to the disclosure of this information (e.g. name of successful applicant, amount of award, event details, etc.) by these parties in connection with the marketing or promotion of the Fund. Westmeath County Council and the Department of Arts, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht are parties to a Memorandum of Understanding which reflects the terms of the arrangement between the parties and all such parties agree to employ appropriate measures to keep applicant’s data safe and secure; to prevent its unauthorized or accidental disclosure, access or alteration; and to ensure that personal data will be processed only in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Data Protection legislation.
Westmeath County Council and Creative Ireland have permission to use the imagery and audio-visual materials provided for promotional purposes only, it will be the responsibility of successful applicants to ensure appropriate permission have been secured, and relevant GDPR guidelines have been followed.

If you require any further information or assistance, please contact Creative Communities Engagement Officer, Grace Dignam on grace.dignam@westmeathcoco.ie, or on 087 940 9317.