Please complete one of the forms linked below and upload the required supporting documentation to submit an application.
Wicklow County Arts Office
Artist Award Scheme 2024 Funding Application
1. BACKGROUND
Wicklow County Arts Office established the Artist Award Scheme as one of several funding streams designed to support artists, arts participation and art form development. These initiatives are integral to Wicklow County Council’s broader efforts to encourage excellence in the arts and enhance community involvement in artistic endeavours across the county.
2. SCHEME PURPOSE
The Artist Award Scheme assists professional artists in the development of artistic practice by enabling them to explore meaningful ways to create work, test out innovative thinking and grow new ideas. The award supports professional practising artists to develop or realise a particular body of work or to undertake professional development.
The Artist Awards Scheme is open to artists at all stages of their careers that reside in or are native to County Wicklow. Professional artists working in any art form, discipline or genre including; film, music, visual arts, theatre, dance, literature, architecture, animation, performance, circus, traditional arts, film, music and drama, are eligible to apply to this scheme.
This scheme aims to enable artists to:
- Develop and/or present new work
- Consider new approaches to their work in the digital and virtual space as a valid and essential arena for artistic endeavour
- Reach out to and connect with vital collaborators, networks, peers and other socially engaged artists, academics, community leaders etc to develop a discourse on their practice
- Connect with international networks, organisations and practitioners, to develop future collaborations and opportunities on an international scale
- Work in collaboration with communities of place and communities of interest in County Wicklow to develop and/ or present new work.
The purpose of the Artist Award Scheme is to support and nurture professional artistic practice in County Wicklow. In recognition of the limitations and the challenges posed to artists and their practice, we aim to:
i. Support the development and creation of virtual, digital and physical practice and methodologies
ii. Support reflective ways of thinking and developing work which includes the creation of new local, national and/or international collaboration, reaching across borders tangible and imaginary.
Note: In practical terms, this may include short-term mentorships, training or development support at the postgraduate level. It may also include the presentation of new work outside the county and/or country by an artist resident in County Wicklow (where there is demonstrable benefit to the artist’s practice)
iii. Support the creation of new works in all art forms that respond to times of social change, research new ideas; question themes or insights and look to the future.
Note: The proposed artworks must generate dialogue through contemporary arts and have a significant impact on the artist’s career development
While the maximum award available is €5,000, awards are often made for lesser amounts.
Previous Artist Award Scheme applications have sought support to:
- Participate in short-term courses or specialist workshops
- Contribute to the costs of participation in a residency
- Take part in professional mentoring programmes or development opportunities
- ‘Buy time’ to develop or research a new body of work
Wicklow County Council is aware that Covid 19 can disrupt an artist’s work schedule and acknowledges that a degree of flexibility is required in the case of an awarded proposal being affected by COVID-19.
3. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
To be considered for the Artist Award Scheme, applications should exhibit the following:
Excellence (latent or achieved) of artistic practice:
↳ Provide evidence of a robust and proven professional arts background (through the applicant’s CV and accompanying documentation)
Quality and innovation of approach:
↳ Demonstration of inventive, ambitious, high-quality and innovative approaches in applicant proposals (including embracing digital or virtual practices)
Distinctive benefit to artist’s professional practice:
↳ Outline how the proposal will distinctly benefit the applicant’s professional growth as an artist and/ or professional practice outputs
Feasibility and viability of proposal (including evidence of advanced planning):
↳ Provide a well-defined project timeline (for project completion within the timeframe of the Award)
Financial Feasibility:
↳ Provide a breakdown of project expenses within your budget including a breakdown of any additional sources of funding or income (including evidence of finances received, permissions and/ or licenses already in place).
3.1 WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY
This award is open to all professional practising artists across all art forms and genres. Applicants must be native to County Wicklow or residing in County Wicklow for the past three consecutive years.
3.2 WHO IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO APPLY
- Undergraduates
- Persons currently in full-time education
- Persons not native to County Wicklow or not residing in County Wicklow for the past three consecutive years
3.3 CATEGORIES NOT ELIGIBLE UNDER THIS AWARD
- Full-time undergraduate education
- Any project which has already begun or is underway (unless there was a first phase of a project and what is proposed is a distinctive second phase or subsequent development). Note: a degree of flexibility will be provided where existing awarded proposals are delayed or affected as a result of illness due to the Covid-19
- Initiatives which form part of a competitive, charitable or fundraising context
- Funds for capital purchases such as equipment
- Self-publishing within literature; CD production within music; materials within the visual arts (paint/canvas etc.); bridging finance; final editing; purchase of equipment
4. ASSESSMENT PROCESS
A diverse pool of assessment panel members, comprising arts practitioners, arts managers, curators, producers, and individuals with relevant artistic and community expertise, along with local knowledge, will contribute to maintaining a well-rounded perspective and expertise during the application assessment process.
The Assessment Panel, once appointed, will have access to the submitted applications and will convene to evaluate them, shortlist, and recommend award recipients for 2024.
5. CONDITIONS
1. All awards are subject to the availability of funds. Awards may be withheld or divided at the discretion of Wicklow County Council
2. All projects must take place in County Wicklow or be of benefit to the residents of the County except projects which involve international collaborators. Applicants must indicate their relationship with the County as outlined in the Application Form
3. Applicants must provide evidence that any organisational commitment referenced by the artist in support of their application has been confirmed e.g. letters of support to show that a particular mentor is available, a place on a course is secured, or an exhibition opportunity confirmed
4. Applications and supporting documentation must be submitted online via the link provided on our website
5. Applications must be complete and have all relevant support documentation. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be accepted
6. No emailed or posted applications will be accepted, applicants must apply through our online platform
7. All applications must adhere to the guidelines set out in this document
8. An online acknowledgement will be sent to the applicant confirming receipt of an Application
9. Applications will be assessed by a panel of professional arts practitioners and will include representation from Wicklow County Council
10. Shortlisting is likely to apply
11. Applicants will be notified as soon as is practicable. It is anticipated that the overall process from submission of applications to notification of outcomes will take approx. 6-8 weeks
12. Successful applicants will be required to submit documentation and high-quality visuals along with a brief report and an Income and Expenditure account before the final drawdown of funding and project completion
13. Successful applicants must hold Public Liability, Employers Liability and/or Professional Indemnity Insurance as appropriate and they may be asked to submit evidence of coverage
14. Wicklow County Council must be credited in any publicity relating to the work which was supported under this scheme. A letter of offer will set out our specific branding and crediting requirements
15. Where relevant, compliance with best practices and legislation in Child Protection as outlined by the Department of Health and Children – www.dohc.ie must be adhered to.
16. While it is expected that proposals should be realised in full within the timeframe specified in the application, there will be a degree of flexibility will be granted if a proposal timeframe is affected by Covid-19
17. Wicklow County Council reserves the right to review the Award Scheme at any time and as a result, may make any changes necessary without any prior notice
18. Applicants are required to read the Wicklow County Council GDPR statement in its entirety
19. Please note that post-assessment, the provision of detailed feedback on applications submitted is not possible.
6. DOCUMENTATION & EVALUATION
Projects supported under the Artist Awards must be documented throughout the lifetime of the project. The final report submitted must include the following:
↳ An evaluation report to include a reflection of the overall experience(s) throughout the project from the perspective of the participants, artist(s), coordinating organisation or community group
↳ A short written report detailing how the grant from Wicklow County Council was expended i.e. project details, cost, timeframe, matchfunding, outcomes
↳ A Financial Report along with Proof of Expenditure i.e. paid invoices/ receipts to the value of the grant amount awarded
↳ A visual record (images/video) of the main stages of the project. A minimum of 5 high-quality digital images are required (the images should be 300dpi, with a size of 292 x 195mm and saved as a JPEG. Max. Size 1-2 MB per image). Wicklow County Council reserves the right to use these images for any publicity relating to this scheme
↳ Evidence of your recognition/ accreditation of Wicklow County Council’s financial contribution to the project e.g. local newspaper articles, advertisements, reports, promotion material, etc. If a permanent artwork is created, Wicklow County Arts Office should be credited alongside the permanent work.
7. HOW TO APPLY
Read all documentation carefully. Under the ‘Apply Online’ section on our website, click on the ‘Apply Here’ link, choose the ‘Submit’ button next to ‘Artist Award Scheme 2024’ and complete the following:
↳ Enter all relevant details on the online application form (emailed/ faxed/posted applications will not be accepted)
↳ Write a detailed description of your project (2,000 words max)
↳ Describe how the Artist Award Scheme would benefit your professional practice
↳ Upload a budget for 2024 plus an Income and Expenditure account for 2023. Please ensure the amount of grant funding you are seeking is included on the budget document (budget templates available on our website must be used)
↳ Upload supporting documentation including:
» An up-to-date Artist CV (max 2 pages)
» 5 examples of your work or items that demonstrate your track record. This can include images, reviews, letters of support, treatments, draft scores, and audio or video recordings (links to YouTube, Vimeo, Soundcloud, MP4 etc.)
7.1 SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING
- Tax Clearance Confirmation
- Evidence of being from, or, having resided in County Wicklow for the past three consecutive years.
APPLICATION DEADLINE:
Friday 16th February 2024 at 4 pm
For any questions or requests for application support, you can reach out to wao@wicklowcoco.ie until Friday, 9th February 2024. Please make your subject line ‘Artist Award Scheme 2024’
Wicklow County Arts Office
Artist & Community Collaboration Award Scheme 2024 Funding Application
1. BACKGROUND
Wicklow County Arts Office established the Artist & Community Collaboration Award Scheme as one of several funding streams designed to support artists, arts participation and art form development. These initiatives are integral to Wicklow County Council’s broader efforts to encourage excellence in the arts and enhance community involvement in artistic endeavours across the county.
2. SCHEME PURPOSE
Participation and access are core strategic objectives of Wicklow County Arts Office. This award scheme will enable artists and communities to engage in arts programmes, explore their creativity, interact and exchange ideas with others and embark on new learning journeys.
The Artist & Community Collaboration Award Scheme 2024 creates opportunities for artists and communities of place or communities of interest to grow new ideas and resource themselves to develop something new, test out innovative thinking and explore ways of working collaboratively to create a new project or programme.
Professional artists and community groups are invited to apply for this awards scheme.
Applications are welcome from all art forms including film, music, visual arts, theatre, dance, literature, architecture, animation, performance, circus, traditional arts, film, music and drama.
Before submitting an application, artists and community groups are required to have already approached the respective artist or community group collaborator and must provide written confirmation of their commitment to the proposal.
The primary objective of the Artist & Community Collaboration Award Scheme is to facilitate an artist and community partnership in any artistic discipline or genre, aimed at creating and delivering a high-quality project or programme that nurtures the creative growth of both the artist and the community.
This award funding is designed to cover one of the following areas, either partially or in full:
- A research and development phase of a planned initiative or
- The production or realisation of a new arts project or programme in 2024.
It’s essential to note that the maximum award available through this scheme is capped at €5,000.
When applying, details of all projected income and expenditure involved in the project must be clearly laid out. Evidence of funding support from other sources will reflect positively in the assessment of proposals.
Wicklow County Council is aware that Covid-may disrupt artists’ work and acknowledges that a degree of flexibility is required if the awarded proposal is affected by Covid-19.
3. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
To be considered for the Artist & Community Collaboration Award Scheme, applications should exhibit the following:
The extent of collaboration evidenced:
- Demonstrate a clear and considered plan describing how the collaboration will be developed and managed
- Provide an overall timeline detailing project delivery, promotion and evaluation
Benefit to both artists and community:
- Outline how the proposal will distinctly benefit both the artist’s professional growth and the community group’s artistic growth
Excellence of artist’s work:
- Demonstrate an inventive, ambitious, and innovative approach to the proposal
- Provide evidence of a robust and proven professional arts background (through the artist’s CV and accompanying documentation)
Financial feasibility of proposal:
- Provide a breakdown of project expenses within the budget including a breakdown of any additional sources of funding or income Background to community group and evidence of ability to deliver:
- Demonstrate and evidence the lead applicant’s ability to manage and deliver the proposal
- Describe the community group’s shared interests, broad objectives, and their proven capability in project management
- Provide a well-defined project timeline (for project completion within the timeframe of the Award)
3.1 WHAT IS NOT ELIGIBLE?
- For-profit or fundraising projects
- Deficits or start-up costs for new organisations
- Entertainment/hospitality expenses
- Projects where the majority of activity takes place outside County Wicklow
- Insurance costs where it is more than 10% of the awarded amount
- Capital improvements
- Proposals where the majority of costs relate to equipment hire/ administrative costs
4. ASSESSMENT PROCESS
A diverse pool of assessment panel members, comprising arts practitioners, arts managers, curators, producers, and individuals with relevant artistic and community expertise, along with local knowledge, will contribute to maintaining a well-rounded perspective and expertise during the application assessment process.
The Assessment Panel, once appointed, will have access to the submitted applications and will convene to evaluate them, shortlist, and recommend award recipients for 2024.
5. CONDITIONS
1. All awards are subject to the availability of funds. Awards may be withheld at the discretion of Wicklow County Council
2. The lead applicant (community group or artist) is required to have a bank account into which the awarded funds will be deposited if the application is successful. The lead applicant must pay the artist and any other expenses relating to the proposed project directly from the awarded funds
3. The lead applicant must have access to appropriate facilities for the proposed project, i.e. digital capacity, storage, heated room, toilet facilities, hot and cold running water, management committee, chairperson, caretaker etc
4. Applications and supporting documentation must be submitted online via the link provided on our website
5. Applications must be complete and have all relevant support documentation. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be accepted
6. No emailed or posted applications will be accepted, applicants must apply through our online platform
7. All applications must adhere to the guidelines set out in this document
8. An online acknowledgement will be sent to the applicant confirming receipt of an Application
9. Applications will be assessed by a panel of professional arts practitioners and will include representation from Wicklow County Council
10. Shortlisting is likely to apply
11. Applicants will be notified as soon as is practicable. It is anticipated that the overall process from submission of applications to notification of outcomes will take approx. 6-8 weeks
12. Successful applicants will, on completion of their project, be required to submit a brief final evaluation report, and an Income and Expenditure account detailing how the funding was spent along with receipts
13. Successful applicants may be required to provide evidence of Public Liability, Employers Liability and/or Professional Indemnity Insurance, as appropriate, upon signing the letter of offer
14. Wicklow County Council logo must be included in all project-related PR campaigns. Wicklow County Arts Office will provide a branding pack to successful applicants
15. Wicklow County Council must receive accreditation i.e. “supported by Wicklow County Council” on invitations, final artistic output etc
16. If a launch or celebration is organised as part of the project, the Wicklow County Art Office must be notified in advance and invited to attend
17. Where relevant, compliance with best practice and legislation in Child Protection as outlined by the Department of Health and Children – www.dohc.ie must be adhered to
18. While it is expected that proposals should be realised in full within the timeframe specified in the application, a degree of flexibility will be granted if the proposal is affected by COVID-19
19. Wicklow County Council reserves the right to review the Award Scheme at any time and make any changes deemed necessary without prior notification to applicants
20. Applicants are required to read the Wicklow County Council GDPR statement in its entirety
21. Please note that post-assessment, the provision of detailed feedback on applications submitted is not possible.
6. DOCUMENTATION & EVALUATION
Projects supported under the Artist & Community Collaboration Award Scheme 2024 must be documented throughout the lifetime of the project. The final report submitted must include the following:
- An evaluation report to include a reflection of the overall experience(s) throughout the project from the perspective of the participants, artist(s) or community group
- A short written report detailing how the grant from Wicklow County Council was expended i.e. project details, cost, timeframe, matchfunding, outcomes
- A Financial Report detailing a breakdown in costs incurred along with Proof of Expenditure i.e. paid invoices/receipts to the value of the grant amount awarded
- A visual record (images/video) of the main stages of the project. A minimum of 5 high-quality digital images are required (the images should be 300dpi, with a size of 292 x 195mm and saved as a JPEG. Max. Size 1-2 MB per image). Wicklow County Council reserves the right to use these images for any publicity relating to this scheme
- Evidence of your recognition/ accreditation of Wicklow County Council’s financial contribution to the project e.g. local newspaper articles, advertisements, reports, promotion material, etc. If a permanent artwork is created, Wicklow County Arts Office should be credited alongside the permanent work.
7. HOW TO APPLY
Read all documentation carefully. Under the ‘Apply Online’ section on our website, click on the ‘Apply Here’ link, choose the ‘Submit’ button next to ‘Artists & Community Collaboration Award Scheme 2024’ and complete the following:
↳ Enter all relevant details on the online application form (emailed/ faxed/posted applications will not be accepted)
↳ Upload the budget for 2024 plus an Income and Expenditure account for 2023. Please ensure to include the amount of grant funding being sought (budget templates available on our website must be used)
↳ Upload supporting documentation including:
» An up-to-date Artist CV (max 2 pages)
» 5 examples of work that represent the artist’s work. This can include images, reviews, letters of support, treatments, draft scores, and audio or video recordings (links to YouTube, Vimeo, Soundcloud, MP4 etc.) If individuals are captured in any image/video, a signed consent form is required for each individual.
» Letter of support from the director/chairperson of the community group
7.1 SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING
- Tax Clearance Confirmation
- Evidence of Public Liability, Employers Liability and/or Professional Indemnity Insurance as appropriate
APPLICATION DEADLINE:
Friday 16th February 2024 at 4 pm
For any questions or requests for application support, you can reach out to wao@wicklowcoco.ie until Friday, 9th February 2024. Please make your subject line 'Artist & Community Collaboration Award Scheme 2024’
Wicklow County Arts Office
Arts Festival Award Scheme 2024 Funding Application
1. BACKGROUND
Wicklow County Arts Office established the Arts Festival Award Scheme as one of several funding streams designed to support artists, arts participation and art form development. These initiatives are integral to Wicklow County Council’s broader efforts to encourage excellence in the arts and enhance community involvement in artistic endeavours across the county.
2. SCHEME PURPOSE
The primary objective of the Arts Festival Awards Scheme is to support the development and programming of Arts Festivals in County Wicklow. This award seeks to financially assist Festival development plans and/or programmes for the year 2024, covering:
i. The production or commissioning of new work for the Festival
ii. The engagement of professional artists or ensembles as part of the Festival programme
iii. Implementation of specific measures targeting audience development and/or public engagement.
iv. The development of new strategies and/or approaches to the delivery of the Festival
It’s essential to note that the maximum award available through this scheme is capped at €10,000.
3. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
To be considered for the Arts Festival Award Scheme, applications should exhibit the following:
Production/commissioning of new work & engagement of professional artists/ensembles:
↳ Demonstrate a clear and considered plan describing how the festival will be developed, managed, produced and presented
↳ Describe how professional artists/ensembles will be engaged
↳ Provide a well-defined project timeline, detailing the festival’s delivery, promotion and evaluation (for project completion within the timeframe of the Award)
Public engagement and audience development:
↳ Describe how the festival will reach new and existing audiences
Proven track record of delivery:
↳ Demonstrate a strong track record in programming, presenting, and producing successful arts festivals
Distinctive nature of artistic merit and evidence of ambition and innovation:
↳ Demonstrate the festival’s artistic merit and distinctive qualities
↳ Display ambition and innovation in the proposal, to advance festival development beyond previous iterations
Feasibility of proposal (advance planning and finances):
↳ Provide a breakdown of project expenses within the budget including a breakdown of any additional sources of funding or income (including evidence of finances received, permissions and/or licenses already in place).
3.1 WHAT IS NOT ELIGIBLE?
- Administration costs
- Non-Arts Festival Events
- For-profit or fundraising projects
- Competitive initiatives
- Entertainment expenses
- Festivals which take place outside County Wicklow
- Insurance costs where it is more than 10% of the awarded amount
- Capital improvements
- Festival projects or programmes where the majority of costs relate to equipment hire
- Projects that focus primarily on the community rather than artistic outcomes
4. ASSESSMENT PROCESS
A diverse pool of assessment panel members, comprising arts practitioners, arts managers, curators, producers, and individuals with relevant artistic and community expertise, along with local knowledge, will contribute to maintaining a well-rounded perspective and expertise during the application assessment process.
The Assessment Panel, once appointed, will have access to the submitted applications and will convene to evaluate them, shortlist, and recommend award recipients for 2024.
5. CONDITIONS
1. All awards are subject to the availability of funds. Awards may be withheld or divided at the discretion of Wicklow County Council.
2. Applications and supporting documentation must be submitted online via the link provided on our website.
3. Applications must be complete and have all relevant support documentation. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be accepted.
4. No emailed or posted applications will be accepted, applicants must apply through our online platform.
5. All applications must adhere to the guidelines set out in this document.
6. Applicants must already have a Festival bank account and constitution or memorandum of association.
7. An online acknowledgement will be sent to the applicant to confirm receipt of the application.
8. Applications will be assessed by a panel of professional arts practitioners and will include representation from Wicklow County Council.
9. Shortlisting is likely to apply.
10. Applicants will be notified as soon as is practicable. It is anticipated that the overall process from submission of applications to notification of outcomes will take approx. 6-8 weeks.
11. Successful applicants are required to submit a Report and an Income and Expenditure account for the Festival after the event has taken place. The report must also include audience numbers (virtual and in-person).
12. Successful applicants are required to provide evidence of Public Liability, Employers Liability and/or Professional Indemnity Insurance, as appropriate, upon signing the letter of offer.
13. Wicklow County Council must be credited in any publicity relating to the work which was supported under this scheme. A letter of offer will set out our specific branding and crediting requirements.
14. Where relevant, compliance with best practices and legislation in Child Protection as outlined by the Department of Health and Children – www.dohc.ie must be adhered to.
15. While it is expected that proposals should be realised in full within the timeframe specified in the application, a degree of flexibility will be accorded if the proposal timeframe is affected by COVID-19.
16. Wicklow County Council reserves the right to review the Award Scheme at any time and make any changes deemed necessary without prior notification to applicants.
17. Applicants are required to read the Wicklow County Council GDPR statement in its entirety.
18. Please note that post-assessment, the provision of detailed feedback on applications submitted is not possible.
6. DOCUMENTATION & EVALUATION
Projects supported under the Festival Awards must be documented throughout the lifetime of the project. The final report submitted must include the following:
- An evaluation report to include a reflection of the overall experience(s) throughout the project from the perspective of the participants, artist(s), coordinating organisation or community group
- A short written report detailing how the grant from Wicklow County Council was expended i.e. project details, cost, timeframe, matchfunding, outcomes
- A Financial Report detailing a breakdown in costs incurred along with Proof of Expenditure i.e. paid invoices/receipts to the value of the grant amount awarded
- A visual record (images/video) of the main stages of the project. A minimum of 5 high-quality digital images are required (the images should be 300dpi, with a size of 292 x 195mm and saved as a JPEG. Max. Size 1-2 MB per image). Wicklow County Council reserves the right to use these images for any publicity relating to this scheme
- Evidence of your recognition/ accreditation of Wicklow County Council’s financial contribution to the project e.g. local newspaper articles, advertisements, reports, promotion material, etc. If a permanent artwork is created, Wicklow County Arts Office should be credited alongside the permanent work.
7. HOW TO APPLY
Read all documentation carefully.
Under the ‘Apply Online’ section on our website, click on the ‘Apply Here’ link, choose the ‘Submit’ button next to ‘Festival Awards Scheme 2024’ and complete the following:
↳ Enter all relevant details on the online application form (emailed/ faxed/posted applications will not be accepted)
↳ Write a detailed description of the Festival (2,000 words max)
↳ Include details of what area you wish to apply the investment from Wicklow County Council
↳ Upload the Budget for 2024 plus an Income and Expenditure account for 2023 (budget templates available on our website must be used)
↳ Upload supporting documentation including:
» An up-to-date CV (max 2 pages)
» 5 examples of work that represent demonstrate the Festivals track record. This can include images, reviews, letters of support, treatments, draft scores, and audio or video recordings (links to YouTube, Vimeo, Soundcloud, MP4 etc.) If individuals are captured in any image/video, a signed consent form is required for each individual.
7.1 SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING
- Tax Clearance Confirmation
- Evidence of Public Liability, Employers Liability and/or Professional Indemnity Insurance as appropriate