CALL FOR PROPOSALS: FABRIC FUTURES - Community Arts Project Brief, Textiles & the Circular Economy

As part of Kilkenny Arts Office’s community arts and climate action 2025 programme we continue to deliver projects as part of our Waste Not Want Not programme. This programme is a natural progression and development of our 2023 and 2024 programme, where we worked with individuals and groups to upcycle and re-purpose waste fabrics, saving it from landfill and giving new life. The 2024 programme included skills-based workshops, such as alterations and repair, repurposing denim, basic sewing skills, sashiko and embroidery. We also hosted a very successful Repair day which coincided with International Repair day

The Arts Office has a longstanding history of running environmentally friendly / climate action-based community programmes, notably Three Bags Full, Born to Knit and Making Space, which ran from 2011 – 2013. All of these projects sourced specific waste streams and designed and delivered community projects, ensuring that these waste materials remained in the system whilst at the same time creating new communities, and building local building confidence and capacity.

Project Overview: for 2025 we are seeking an artist(s)* to design and deliver Fabric Futures – a comprehensive project for Kilkenny, engaging with our community aimed at raising awareness about the textile industry and the circular economy. This project should engage with *local artists, makers, and *community members in creating artworks that highlight the importance of sustainable practices in the textile industry. The project should promote dialogue around sustainable textile practices and engage participants in processes and making, enabling conversations and sharing of knowledge and skills.

The proposed project should (both as part of its process and outcome(s)) influence, educate and encourage the participants, but also make a statement about the damaging effects of the wider textile industries on our environment for the public at large.

The project should include practical activities that are anchored in creativity, art and making, while being deeply rooted in principles and context of the circular economy.

The proposed project should also have a strong concept, which serves as its foundation, guiding the project’s development and ensuring it has a clear purpose and direction. This should be:

Clear and Well-Defined
Innovative
Relevant
Contextual
Engaging

*The artist(s) / team should include administrative / production expertise in order to ensure that skills for scheduling, budget management and practical elements are appropriately covered.

*Kilkenny Arts Office has an existing Community Artists panel from which skills can be drawn subject to their availability

*Kilkenny Arts Office also has an extensive & active Community Arts database of individuals that engage with our WNWN programme on a regular basis

Timeline: May / June to October / November 2025 (actual dates TBD)

Objectives:

Educate the community about the principles of the circular economy in textiles.
Motivate changes in behaviour
Encourage and teach skills and knowledge around sustainable practices such as recycling, upcycling, and responsible consumption.
Inspire creativity and innovation in the use of textile materials.
Foster community engagement, conversation and collaboration

Target Audience:

Community members / general public
Local artists and makers
Environmental advocates

Materials:

Kilkenny Arts Office has already identified the waste stream that we will work with as we have an existing stock of interior design fabrics, such as fabric sample books, in a variety of materials, such a tweed, sofa upholstery, heavy cottons etc. we also have curtain sample fabrics, curtains and other fabrics, such a denim. We also have contacts to enable us to source further fabrics / materials if necessary. These are the materials around which the project needs to be designed as this is our existing waste stream.

Criteria

To ensure we deliver an affective and impactful project the application should outline how the proposal & the artist(s) can fulfil the following

Proven expertise and proficiency in the arts, in textiles and other relevant art forms
Evidence of appropriate project management skills
Evidence of ability to communicate and connect with community members / the public, the Arts Office and partner organisations
A demonstrated understanding and respect for cultural dynamics and diversity within the community
A working understanding & appreciation of Sustainable practices within the arts, specifically the textiles industry and a knowledge of the Circular Economy

How to apply

Please apply by submitting your proposal outlining:

Project Summary: A brief overview of the project, and how is proposes to use our existing stock of materials. Please include a brief explanation of how the project intends to highlight and begin to educate the public and address the challenge of the current Textile industry referencing the Circular economy. This can include data, surveys, or anecdotes to illustrate the importance of the project.
Objectives: How your proposal fulfils the objectives outlined above*
Detailed information about the project, including:
- Who: The target audience and participants.
- What: The activities and outputs.
- When: The timeline and key milestones.
- Why: The rationale behind the proposal and its potential impact
Community Engagement: How the project will engage and involve the community, including potential collaborators
Materials / Resources needed for the project, for example, sewing machines and / or other supplies
Evaluation Plan: How the project’s success will be measured.
Sustainability:
- Potential strategies for the project’s long-term impact and sustainability beyond the initial funding period.
- Brief details on the project’s potential for development beyond the initial 2025 phase
Artist(s) & supporting materials
- Artists CV – Max three A4 pages
- Evidence of the artists ability to design and deliver the project within the outlined timeline
- Evidence of the artists ability to work both independently and collaboratively
- An outline of relevant experience of community arts to-date including brief details of your approach to community arts projects.
- Evidence of the artists ability to build and manage relationships with relevant communities and community-based organisations
- Highly motivated with good time management and ability to work to tight deadlines
- Any additional materials that support the application, this must include information on previous relevant projects undertaken.

Budget: Fees, including artists and any supporting personnel. Please include materials, travel, subsistence and VAT if applicable. (There is a separate budget for venue hire and marketing)

Insurance and Tax: The successful applicant will be responsible for all taxes which arise from any payment by Kilkenny County Council of the agreed fee including and without prejudice the generality of this provision.

Kilkenny County Council invites a proposal for an initial six-month contract, with the option, at the sole discretion of the awarding authority, to extend for a further three periods of one year each (max 4 years total),