Creative Hubs: Call for Proposals
Artists and Arts Organisations: Call for Proposals Children’s Art in Libraries: Creative Hubs Programme Workshops/Interactive Performances/Short Residencies
Dublin City Council is pleased to invite outline proposals from artists and arts organisations, working across all artistic disciplines, to be part of our Children’s Art in Libraries Creative Hubs Programme July 2021 – April 2022. The current City Arts Plan; our Arts, Education and Learning Policy; and Dublin City’s Culture and Creativity Strategy include among their objectives, increasing access and provision for children and young people to quality arts experiences in local neighbourhoods.
The dual strengths of the library as a site for cultural access and education is the sense of ownership felt by citizens - regardless of income, status, age, gender or ethnic origin - and its connection to local social, community and education networks. Creative Hubs are an initiative of Dublin City Arts Office and Libraries, that sustain high quality arts experiences for children, schools and families to access in their Library and locality, through partnership and engagement.
In co-creating this programme, in each of our three Creative Hubs Libraries - Coolock, Cabra and Ballyfermot - artists create new opportunities for children to engage with the arts through:
- Workshops or Performances
- Short Residencies
- Commissions
Each of these libraries, when open to the public, have both flexible workshop space and dedicated areas for working with children and have in the past hosted dance and theatre performances, exhibitions , and workshops/events and artist residencies accommodating 10 – 30 children across all art-forms. From January to April this year alone, the programme has seen participation from over 650 children in Visual Arts, Drama and Creative Writing. Outside of the realm of this call, we complement these activities with CPD and other enhanced programming for educators and parents, in response to local need and partnerships.
Activities are inclusive of all art forms including but not limited to visual art, music, dance, drama, storytelling or literature, performance, STEAM, film, digital arts/animation, architecture etc..
To date, we have invited artists from Dublin City Council’s former Artists Panel or from practitioners or organisations whose arts development practises are well known to us. This year, we wish to open up the opportunity to welcome artists/organisations who may be new to the Creative Hubs programme, as well as those with whom we have worked previously. In common with most, we have been adapting to the new realities of online and hybrid presentation and we anticipate that format will continue this summer, and to some degree into the autumn.
Our programme will be delivered as follows:
Summer Programme: over 5 weeks from July to early August 2021 for public online audience. This audience/participants will be families: parents with children under 6; or for children of a specific age range (usually 6-8 and 9-12).
The summer programme can accommodate:
· Interactive Online Activities/Workshops that can be hosted across different libraries and which are designed to encourage active participation of families or a specific age group of children.
· Inspiring Activities for Children and parents to explore on their own.
· Interactive Online Performances (or we may consider Outdoor Performances in Cabra, Coolock or Ballyfermot neighbourhoods only if feasible/relevant).
· Short Residencies consisting of consecutive online workshops, working on a proposed theme with regular participants (these can occur once a week over 3-5 weeks, or be presented as an intensive Mon – Fri week of workshops).
Autumn/Winter/Spring Programme: October 2021 – April 2022 largely for a schools audience, with some mid-term public programming. Programme may be delivered online and also live, guidelines permitting, in libraries and other local settings where relevant. This timeframe allows greater responsivity to local need and interest.
This programme can accommodate:
- One off Workshops or (interactive) Performances that can be made available to children across the three library catchment areas.
- Short Residencies of consecutive workshops (usually 4 -8 sessions), working with school/s on a proposed theme or arts development focus.
Commissions (however, please note we propose a separate phased approach to commissioning which we anticipate will be advertised in late May : shortlisted artists R&D in Autumn 2021 and finished commission at a time to be agreed 2022. Artists/organisation who submit for workshops/residencies will still be eligible to be considered for commissions).
Sample programmes from Spring and Summer 2020
See previous sample summer residency
View a short video about Jane Fogarty’s residency below:
See sample Easter 2021 short residency
https://www.facebook.com/186894451334276/posts/4073667609323588/
See Previous Winter Dance Residency, with choreographer Maria Nillson Waller
http://www.dublincityartsoffice.ie/supporting-communities/programmes-for-children-young-people/childrens-art-in-libraries-programme/ballyfermot-creative-hub
or watch below:
HOW WILL THIS WORK?
By May 14th you submit
- A brief outline WORKSHOP/PERFORMANCE/SHORT RESIDENCY proposal indicating broadly what children will explore, the probable duration, ideal age range, your availability.
- Samples of previous work and/or relevant CV.
- An indicative budget (to include prep, delivery, materials estimation).
We then select fully formed proposals or shortlist a number of proposals for further development. A fee of up to 500 euro will be paid to selected artists/organisations for further development/adaptation of proposals where required.
Summer programme proposals for selection or further immediate development will be notified by May 21st and content finalised May 30th.
Autumn 2021– Spring 2022 proposals will be considered in June and shortlisted for further development thereafter.
We welcome proposals which:
a) Are from Arts Organisations and/or from individual or collaborating artists.
b) Maximise children engagement, whether in-school ; or in families; or out-of school.
c) Are ambitious, innovative, and foster creativity, curiosity and understanding of the arts.
d) Can connect with the rich resources and networks of the library context.
e) Have scope to attract new and local audience, including culturally diverse participants and audience.
f) Have potential to enrich and/or are responsive to local cultural life.
g) Can support new collaborations or cultural partnership over time.
h) Have a clear and feasible budget.
We will:
- Support you to develop your proposal
- Promote and host your event/s through the networks of each Creative Hubs; and with the resources of Public Libraries and Arts Office communications.
- Each Creative Hubs library will manage all bookings with public and schools.
- Provide practical assistance where required
- Provide fees for prep, delivery, materials as agreed on letter of agreement.
- Funding may be used to purchase materials / to engage an artist to create new work or processes / exhibition and workshops / showcase or performance of new work. All artists should be paid equitably for their work, time and preparation.
- Successful applicants may be asked to be available for promotional material.
- Presenting organisations will be required to show evidence of an up to date child protection policy
- Artists may be subject to garda vetting through Dublin City Council
HOW TO APPLY
Apply online through Submittable, available here: https://dublincityartsoffice.submittable.com/
Deadline for Submission: May 14th 2021
For questions, please contact Sinéad Connolly at sinead.connolly@dublincity.ie