Incubation Space Award
Closing Date: 12 Noon, Thursday 6 November 2025
The Incubation Space Award is intended to enable innovative artists / arts companies / collectives - working in any artistic discipline - to research and develop new works or collaborative methodologies, over a period of one to six months, through the provision of a dedicated work-space in Unit 4, James Joyce Street.
The Incubation Space Award is intended to enable innovative artists / arts companies / collectives - working in any artistic discipline - to research and develop new works or collaborative methodologies, over a period of one to six months, through the provision of a dedicated work-space in Unit 4, James Joyce Street.
What is included in the Incubation Space Award?
Based in Unit 4, James Joyce Street, Dublin 1, the Award provides a free, good sized, bright work space/studio, approx. 70.5m2. The Units consists of kitchen and washroom facilities, large heated studio and wireless broadband.
While it is a flexible space, applicants should note that the cement flooring may not be suitable for dance, without the awardee arranging temporary additional measures.
Applicants may apply for a minimum of one month, up to a maximum of six months, to fall within January 2026 – December 2026. An Arts Officer will be assigned as liaison to connect awardees to the programme of the Arts Office, where relevant, or to suggest appropriate mentorship or other supports as needed.
- Quality of the research/collaborative proposal and relevance to the artists’ development of practice at that time (40%)
- Quality of approach to documentation and sectoral/public sharing (20%)
- Background and achievements to date (20%)
- Appropriateness of space (of this size) to the needs of artists, and proposed Health and Safety management of space(20%)
Applicants will be asked to indicate 1st preference and 2nd preference timing. It may be necessary, in support of scheduling throughout the year, to offer second preference or a shorter timeframe than requested.
An online information seminar about the award was held on Thursday 16th October at 12 noon.
The video is available to watch by clicking the link below:
Regan O’Brien and Marian Marcote Araujo; Shifting Stages; AEMI; Taste in your Mouth; Favour Odusola; Elva Mulchrone, Basil Al-Rawi and Diaa Lagan ; John Scott/Irish Modern Dance Theatre; The Wood and the Trees Collective; Anthony Keigher (Xnthony); Viva Dean Ferguson ( Synthesize_Her) and Aisling Phelan (DATA); Samson Films; Lemon Soap Productions; Gifthorse Theatre;; Darren Yorke; Museum of Everyone; Dublin Modular ; Kirkos Collective; Malaprop; Murmuration, Zoe Ní Riordáin and Shaun Dunne; ANU Productions, Project Brand New, Theatre Club; Carpet Theatre; Wilfredd Theatre; Edwina Casey and Lydia Prior; Dublin Sound Lab; Clown Co-Op, Outlandish Theatre, TATSOI, The Femmes Maison Collective, pre-form, Naomi Sex, Caoimhe Kilfeather & Barbara Knezevic, John Ryan, Carol Walsh, Sarah Baxter, Púca Puppets, Anthony Keigher, Emma Fitzgerald, Brokentalkers, Jane Deasy, Spatial Music Collective, Loose Canon, Robbie Blake & Tonnta ; Theatre Lovett ; Eoin Lynch; Cathal McGuire; Bombinate Theatre; Change of Address Collective; Basic Space
All applications must be made through Submittable.
Feedback from previous awardees
“For us, the studio became an ideas factory, workshop studio and meeting hub for THISISPOPBABY's family of artists. We focussed our time on developing a new high octane show, WAKE. The studio provided a home for big ideas and allowed artistic continuity for a glorious six month stretch. We are big fans of this residency scheme and would advocate for it to be widened to other spaces, accommodating more artists and companies who can really grow if given space, time and opportunity.”
“The Incubation Space Award offered us a rich and timely opportunity to make our collaborative project with young dancers from Dublin Youth Dance Company. It provided us with space to collaborate on the various elements/disciplines of the project - dance, photography, video, sound and vocal testimony as well as to make work and assess progress in a great location.” – Marian Ribon (Choreographer) and Sharon Murphy (Lens-based artist)
“The Professional development of any artist is imperative and as artist’s who devise over periods of months to produce original work, having the time to experiment in the Incubation space at the development stages of Projects is vital.”
“I have never been more prolific… and feel I have advanced hugely as an artist. In large part this has been because of having enough space to work efficiently on installations, instrument-building and other hands-on work, and because of being able to work on multiple projects simultaneously, and having most of my equipment close to hand and well-organised. It has also been very exciting to have a space suitable for inviting other artists into for collaborations” – Sebastian Adams
“To make new work, in collaboration with communities, the Incubation Space has been invaluable: 3 months of space and time to settle and create, with the support of DCC's Arts Office.”
