This opportunity is being offered in direct response to Kilkenny Arts Office Performing Arts Needs Analysis 2024
Six in the Attic (SITA) and Six in the Virtual Attic is Irish Theatre Institute (ITI)’s key artist development programme. This year long programme provides playwrights and theatre makers with the space and resources to develop your practice and build a community of peers. The programme changes every year as it responds to the needs of the specific group.
2024/25 marks the second time the programme has included strategic local authority partners as a way of ensuring the virtual programme reaches the entire country. This year the nine partners include: Cork County Council Arts Office, Fingal Arts Office, Galway City Arts Office, Galway County Arts Office, Kilkenny Arts Office, Kildare County Arts Office, Tipperary Arts Office, Waterford County Arts Office, and Wicklow County Arts Office. These sectoral collaborators are supporting ITI to identify artists across the country to ensure they avail and participate in the programme. There will be twelve artists selected in total (both Virtual and In Person), with a minimum of six spaces held for artists living in the local authorities listed above.
Six in the Attic was established in 2011, focusing on supporting a community of playwrights and theatre makers to engage, explore, develop, debate, and collaborate on their projects. Since the foundation of the programme, Six in the Attic alumni have gone on to great successes – creating new works, winning awards, founding theatre companies, amongst many more accolades and achievements.
WHO CAN APPLY:
We are interested in getting applications from artists who:
- Have ambitious creative plans for the period December 2024 to November
- Are seeking mentoring and peer support alongside provision of space, time, and practical resources to create over a 12-month period.
- Are resident on the island of
- Have an established theatre practice and track record of 1 full-length production produced or programmed by an established production company, festival, theatre venue or independent
If you are interested in the programme, but you are not sure if you are eligible to apply, please don’t assume you’re not. We will be hosting a session on Zoom on the 22nd October at 1pm to answer any questions you might have. Register for the session here. If you can’t attend and you still have a question, please get in touch with us to check by emailing Katherine Murphy, Programme Manager, kmurphy@irishtheatreinstitute.ie.
WHAT DO ARTISTS RECEIVE:
Selected artists engage in a thoughtfully curated programme of:
- Weekly gatherings online and two in-person meet ups to establish a community of
- Professional development workshops from ITI and external experts focused on areas identified by the group for upskilling.
- Introductions and networking with other independent artists and arts organisations nationally and
- One-to-one mentoring and application support from Director Niamh O’Donnell and Programme Manager Katherine Murphy, as well as optional coaching from Creative Facilitator Lian Bell.
- FOR DUBLIN ARTISTS: Access to a shared workspace with a desk, as well as access to rehearsal/meeting room spaces for development and collaboration sessions in ITI’s offices in 17 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2.
- FOR NON-DUBLIN ARTISTS: Access to short term dedicated desk in a venue or cultural space in your area, as well as meeting with your Art Office to facilitate local networking opportunities.
- An artist practice honorarium of €1,300 (Please note, travel, overnight accommodation and per diems are additional for the in person meet ups.)
ITI is now calling for applications from playwrights and theatre makers seeking to realise their artistic ambition, enhance their professional skills and build peer supports.
TIMELINE
17th October Applications open
22nd October Zoom info session for applicants – register here
12th November Deadline for applications, 4.00pm
19th November Panel of Artists meet for deliberations
21st November All successful and unsuccessful applicants notified Early December Six in the Attic 2024/25 participants announced
13th December Six in the Attic and Six in the Virtual Attic – First gathering in Dublin
MAKING YOUR APPLICATION
Please complete the relevant application form (see links below) and upload a CV (max two pages). Six in the Attic Application Form (For Dublin-based applicants)
Six in the Virtual Attic Application Form (For Non-Dublin based applicants)
We would also be happy to accept video applications (no longer than 8 minutes) stating the relevant information outlined above. Please use wetransfer.com and email us a link to your video application. Here is a guide of how to do that.
SELECTION PROCESS:
Applications will be assessed by ITI and the relevant partner(s) for eligibility and initial review. Both programmes (SITA and Virtual Attic) will support artists who work in and are actively making a career in theatre across the island of Ireland. A minimum of six artists will be selected through the nine local authority partners so not every local authority listed is guaranteed to have an artist selected from that area.
The selection of the twelve artists is done by peer panel. All eligible applications are read by the panel. The Panel is selected from a diverse range of artists. The applications will be read over two to three days, and then the panel meet to discuss and deliberate to make the final selection.
FURTHER QUESTIONS AND ASSISTANCE FOR APPLICANTS
As mentioned above, we welcome questions from all potential applicants, but specific access supports and access costs are also available. These supports are for applicants with disabilities to cover any requirements you may have in order to remove barriers that might stop you from completing your application. ITI can cover access costs, as defined by the Arts Council. If you’d prefer to meet one of our team to talk through these guidelines or would like to submit your application in another format (like video), please contact us on kmurphy@irishtheatreinstitute.ie.
If you are selected for the programme, we will complete an access requirement audit as part of the induction process to identify and make a plan to meet your needs. If you have any queries or there are barriers you feel limit your access to the programme or application process, please get in touch directly so we can best support you within the means available to us.
ITI and our strategic partners are determined to ensure the artists supported through this programme are representative of Ireland today. If anyone has any questions, worries, or concerns or before anyone potentially rules themselves out of applying, please contact us. Please contact Katherine Murphy at kmurphy@irishtheatreinstitute.ie or call us on 01-6704906.
The Six in the Attic programme is funded by the Arts Council /An Chomhairle Ealaíon and supported by Cork County Council Arts Office, Fingal Arts Office, Galway City Arts Office, Galway County Arts Office, Kilkenny Arts Office, Kildare County Arts Office, Tipperary Arts Office, Waterford County Arts Office, and Wicklow County Arts Office.
