Submit Applications for Artist in the Community Scheme Awards (Ireland)

Objectives

• Proposals should include a clear description of frameworks and methods for engagement and collaboration:
  • A framework is like a roadmap for a project and can help you and others to imagine the kind of journey the project will take you on and helps explain the values underpinning your approach.
  • Methods are more specific actions or processes that you will use or test in the project.
  • Value the creative contributions of all collaborators while providing opportunities for artistic challenge and experimentation.
  • Support the inclusion of multiple voices in defining the identity and purpose of the project and making practical, artistic, and conceptual decisions for the project.
  • Ensure that the artistic quality and the quality of the engagement between artist and collaborators are both considered at all stages (e.g. in the planning, making, presentation and evaluation of work).
  • Demonstrate active support and commitment from all collaborators and partners and organisational clarity (i.e. do all current stakeholders/partners in the project understand the purpose of the project, where it’s going, and their roles in it.)
  • Consider how the project might develop or encourage opportunities for the community such as new communications, social networks, or new social or interest groups.

Categories

• Research & Development Award: The purpose of the Research & Development Award is to support proposals from professional artists who wish to collaborate artistically with communities of place and/or interest groups who are non-arts professionals.
• It is essential that there is significant contact between the artist and the community with which they intend working; the community must show support for the initiative and willingness to be involved over time:
  • The Research & Development award: is open to artists who wish to research and develop a project in a community context
  • The Research & Development Award (with Mentoring): is open to artists who wish to develop a community based project and who have identified a mentor (who must be an arts professional) they want to work with during the research and development period.
  • Recent Graduate, Research & Development Award (with Mentoring): This award is open to artists who have recently completed an undergraduate degree programme who are interested in developing a community-based project and have identified a mentor (who must be an arts professional) they want to work with during the research and development period.
• Project Realisation Award: The purpose of the Project Realisation Award is to support proposals from communities of place and/or interest groups (non-arts professionals) who want to collaborate artistically with an artist/s.

Funding Information

• Research & Development Award:
  • Research & Development Award (without mentoring): maximum award €3,500. The time frame should be no longer than 6 months
  • Research & Development Award (with mentoring): maximum award €4,500 of which €1,000 is specifically to engage a mentor for the artist. The time frame should be no longer than 6 months
  • Recent Graduate, Research & Development Award (with Mentoring): maximum award €4,500 of which €1,000 is specifically to engage a mentor for the artist. The time frame should be no longer than 6 months. Recent graduates can request up to €1,000 additional funding to support the development of their practice.
• Project Realisation Award:
  • Projects: maximum award €15,000 from 8 months up to 12 months.

Eligibility Criteria

• The AIC Scheme is open to artists, communities and organisations. To be eligible to apply, applicants must:
  • Be resident in the Republic of Ireland. However, they may accept applications from outside the Republic of Ireland. In this case, you must detail in your application form how your proposal would benefit the arts in the Republic of Ireland.
  • Recent Graduate, Research & Development Award (with Mentoring): Recent Graduate artists are defined as those of any age, who have graduated from an undergraduate degree programme in the arts in the past three years and are interested in developing or exploring or are establishing a professional career in collaborative arts practice. This award specifically targets emerging artists/practitioners who have completed their undergraduate degree and who are not in postgraduate studies at the time of the award.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Applicants who are not eligible to apply include the following:
  • Individuals or organisations looking for participants to populate a pre-planned arts project that has not been co-created with the community (as opposed to those looking to plan and develop a project from beginning to end in collaboration with a specific group or groups).
  • Individuals or organisations working on projects where therapy is the primary goal or outcome.
  • Individuals or organisations working in the area of Arts and Communities where the primary target group is children and/or young people unless there is at least an equal focus on intergenerational practice.
  • Individuals currently in undergraduate (inclusing those undertaking foundation courses) or postgraduate education (or who will be during the period for which this award is offered) are not eligible for Research & Development Awards.
  • Proposals from artists or arts organisations that do not include artistic collaboration with non-arts professionals.
  • Organisations currently in receipt of funding under Arts Council grant programmes (Strategic Funding, Arts Centre Funding and Partnership Funding). However applicants may name such organisations as partners.
  • Organisations and individuals in receipt of Arts Grant Funding, unless otherwise specifically advised by the Arts Council or Create. However applicants may name such organisations as partners.
  • National Cultural Institutions (CNCI) (or their Council members) directly funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

Application Requirements

• Research & Development Award:
  • Applications for Research & Development Awards with Mentoring must demonstrate:
    • Identified mentoring needs
    • A schedule of meetings with the proposed mentor
    • A letter of agreement from the mentor including an agreement that the mentor will be paid, stating the amount of the fee
    • The mentor co-signs the application
    • The mentor is independent from the project.

For more information, visit The Arts Council.