Contemporary Visual Art Practice – Subsidised Mentoring Programme.
Deadline for receipt of applications is 23:59 on 10th February 2025
BIG LOOK in partnership with Kilkenny Arts Office is offering this online mentoring programme designed to provide subsidised access to a mentoring programme on contemporary painting/drawing practice to artists living and working within the Kilkenny County Council administrative area. This course will provide a framework and set of tools for artists to reflect on their existing painting practice and find new opportunities to develop and refine a cohesive vision for their work.
Ten funded participants will join the programme working together online with an in-person session hosted by the Arts Office in Kilkenny in May.
Applicants must participate in an online information session about the mentoring programme on January 28th at 5.30pm. Book a place on the information session here.
The Mentors
The following mentors will deliver the course content. Each mentor is a practicing artist with an established art career. The artists were selected to provide distinct but complementary perspectives.
Gabhann Dunne
Gabhann will show how to describe in language all forms of painting, and how to use this framework to reflect on your own work. In this module you will be part of a group that will explore :
- Colour and composition as core values
- Different systems of painting
- How painters use these systems in their work
Ciara Roche
Ciara will work with you to reflect on your existing practice, get outside your comfort zone to stimulate the creation of new work. During the course, Ciara will help you:
- Identify your strengths
- Find ways to create work with limited time
- Through feedback and group discussion
- Put words on what you do and contextualise it
Maurice Quillinan
In this module, Maurice will guide you through an end-to-end exercise of conceptualising an exhibition around a theme to be provided. This will provide a framework to explore:
- Studio practice and time management
- How to promote yourself and your work
- How to engage with others in the art world
- How to plan and execute for an exhibition
Eligibility:
You are eligible for this online mentoring programme if you are resident in Kilkenny County Council administrative area for a minimum of two years and are interested in developing an existing painting or drawing practice through a structured group mentoring programme online.
A maximum of 10 applicants (mentees) will be selected to join the cohort through a competitive application and selection process.
You must confirm your availability to participate in all modules of the programme by joining weekly online sessions and completing assignments.
The deadline for applications will be 23:59 on 10th February with selected mentees announced thereafter. The mentoring programme will then run from March- May 2025 (see below for more details on the format and participation requirements).
Application process:
- Applicants must participate in an online information session about the mentoring program on January 28th at 5.30pm
- Applicants must fill out the online form – see link below
- No hard copy applications will be accepted
- While your progress on the application will be saved automatically, we recommend applications must be completed in a single session. Therefore, please have the following answers prepared before you fill out the application form:
- How this course will advance your practice (max 200 words)
- External influences that inform your art practice
- How you see or would like to see your art practice developing in the next 5 years (max 200 words)
- 3-5 examples of your own work not to exceed 10 MB per image
- Current artist CV with list of artistic achievements to date
If you have any questions about the mentoring programme that are not answered on this page, you will have the opportunity to add these to your application. We will do our best to respond to these questions in advance of the selection process.
Funding
Funding provided under this mentoring programme will provide for subsidised participation in the programme. Instead of the full price of €515, participants will only be required to pay a support fee of €100, thereby lowering substantially the cost for participation.
For more information and HOW TO APPLY visit BIG LOOK