Kilkenny County Council Arts Office invites applications from artists across all art forms who have a clear passion for nature and the environment. Who are curious about how the impact of biodiversity loss and the climate crisis is likely to impact the arts and culture in Ireland. Applications are accepted by artists all across Ireland and overseas.
We are looking to emulate nature in prioritising a rich and diverse ecology and as a result will prioritise applications that can demonstrate a unique perspective through lived experience.
RESIDENCY CONTEXT
Research and development working towards a Climate Art Assembly which began at Project Arts Centre in 2022 between Maeve Stone as artivist in residence, Sinead Curran, Eileen Hutton, Vanya Lambrecht-Ward and Rosie O’Reilly.
With support from The Arts Council’s Invitation to Collaboration and led by Wexford Arts Office this year will enable a research and development phase with a view to building a template for a Climate Art Assembly in 2025. By embedding the project in four counties – Cavan, Clare, Offaly and Galway – across the four provinces the artists will spend time researching and mapping the creative ecology of the specific place including the artists, arts organisations and arts workers who contribute to the culture of each county. Our aim with this research is to create a baseline that exposes the kinds of people, places and types of work happening, and to build an understanding of where the specific adaptation pressures and possibilities lie. The outcomes of these residencies will form the bedrock of the approach and themes of a Climate Art Assembly of artists, arts sector workers, administrators, crafts people and arts organisations.
The Rhizome residency, which is specific to Kilkenny, will help us to understand how a locally embedded artist in each county would help to inform a country wide approach – delivering locally specific observations and diverse perspectives.
AIM
This work is a response to the challenges of the climate crisis, acknowledging that the arts will need to adapt to survive and thrive, and we are taking our lead from the principals of biomimicry and natural systems. This residency is an effort to gather and layer the dynamic and complex range of art and culture in Kilkenny.
RESIDENCY PRIORITIES
As part of the residency we are committed to prioritising the wellbeing of the artist, their practice and connecting locally
- Acknowledge the limits of the project as a pilot and prioritise personal care – not trying to hold more than is good and balanced as workload for an individual.
- Stay true to your practice.
- There is an emphasis on connection building & network building, i.e. connecting with place, people and other species.
- Starting conversations as opposed to quantifying outcomes.
- Discover the work that is already happening or ongoing.
- We are interested in non-traditional mapping methods, e.g. mapping emotions, conversations, uncertainty or invisible ideas and time. Also story-maps, systems thinking, deep mapping and oral traditions of place shaping.
- Utilising ‘Hopes’ as a verb; e.g. creating an active response to building hope and /or creating a vocabulary and references to ideas and approaches that encourage active, local and inclusive approaches to climate adaptation within art and culture.
APPLICANTS
We are interested in applications from artists across art forms who have a clear passion for nature and the environment and are curious about how the impact of biodiversity loss and the climate crisis is likely to impact the arts and culture in Ireland.
We are looking to emulate nature in prioritising a rich and diverse ecology and as a result will prioritise applications that can demonstrate a different perspective through lived experience.
DURATION & DATES
- Ten days – the residency plan and scheduling will be discussed with the successful applicants and an agreement will be signed off with the Arts Office
- The residency will take place in September / October 2024
OTHER
- Location: studio is city based
- Accommodation: needs to be found by the successful artist and they will be reimbursed. Accommodation budget is capped and will be discussed with the successful artist
- As the residency is a short term residency an existing knowledge of Kilkenny and its arts and cultural ecosystem is an advantage
THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT WILL RECEIVE
- An artist’s fee of €2,000
- A space to base themselves for the duration of the residency
- Logistical support
HOW TO APPLY
- Maximum 500-word statement outlining your rationale and approach
- Up to date CV (max two pages)
- Details & images of previous projects
- Two professional referees
- Applications will be accepted by email in PDF format only. The file must not exceed 10MB
- Please send completed application to: Deirdre.Southey@kilkennycoco.ie
You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt for your application. If you do not receive this e-mail within 24 hours of the deadline, please contact the Arts Office on 056 779 4547
Taxation – The successful applicant will be responsible for all taxes, which arise from payment of the agreed fee, including and without prejudice to the generality of this provision all income tax and all VAT.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: TUESDAY 16TH JULY 2024, 4PM
