Open Call: Bealtaine Touring Award 2025 (Ireland)

The Age & Opportunity organisation will provide a platform for presenting the tour during the Bealtaine Festival in the month of May along with some financial support. The producer/artist will be responsible for all aspects of the production and tour, with Age & Opportunity as a co-producer. The tour must happen during the month of May 2025 (but may have additional dates outside of this period) and have at least three shows/performances.

The aim of the award is to encourage and nurture creative work by and for older people which is ambitious and innovative and takes place across Ireland. They are particularly eager to receive applications for work that is radical, challenging, humorous or offbeat. They also wish to bring a broader range of festival events to their Bealtaine participants and audiences.

Funding Information

• Age & Opportunity will:
  • Provide a platform for the tour through the Bealtaine Festival.
  • Provide PR support through the Bealtaine Festival, (the tour will need to also have its own PR plan).
  • Issue two payments totalling €5,000: one payment on award of contract and one on completion, subject to Arts Council funding.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age & Opportunity’s Arts Programme invites applications from performing artists and producers for an award for work which will tour during May 2024, as part of the Bealtaine Festival.
• Age & Opportunity invites applications whereby the following parameters will apply:
  • The artist/producer will:
    • Produce all aspects of the production and tour (including providing evidence of insurance and risk assessments).
    • Credit Age & Opportunity and the Bealtaine Festival as a co-producer on the tour on all promotional materials and funding applications.
    • Commit to the timeframe of May 2025 for the tour.
    • Provide key assets to the Age & Opportunity Bealtaine Festival team within an agreed timeline, e.g.: publicity materials, production shots, as well as making key personnel available for PR opportunities.
    • Provide a short report on the event after the fact including high quality images/photos of the event.

Selection Criteria

• Applications will be assessed according to the following criteria and applicants should pay special attention to these when completing the application form:
  • Work which clearly resonates with Bealtaine’s mission and/or target audience.
  • Track record of relevant personnel.
  • High artistic merit.
  • New work/work which has not toured previously, (remounted work may be considered in some circumstances).
  • Clearly achievable in the timeframe outlined.

Assessment Criteria

• Please note, applications will be assessed by an Age & Opportunity appointed panel.
• Applicants will be assessed on the selection criteria and the questions answered on the application form.
• Incomplete applications will be disqualified.

Application Requirements 

• Those wishing to apply for the tour award should submit their completed application via the online form or via email in Word or PDF formats, with supporting documentation included.

For more information, visit Bealtaine Festival.