Fiosrú agus Smaoineamh

The Exploring and Thinking Partnership is a collaborative framework for early childhood arts in the Dublin region. It came about in 2016 when the four Dublin local authorities South Dublin County, Fingal County, Dublin City and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County partnered for the first time to collectively consider early childhood arts provision in the Dublin region. 

The Exploring & Thinking Bursary Award aims to support emerging and established artists wishing to develop a practice in early childhood arts. 

The partnership has supported 20 Bursaries between 2019-2022, funding a range of supports for artists across artforms and early years practice.

The partnership has been supported by The Arts Council / Invitation to Collaboration Award

The partnership objectives:

• To support artistic ambition in cross-artform collaborations, professional development and the research and development of new work in early childhood arts.
• To reach new early childhood arts audiences in under-served communities and neighbourhoods.
• To stimulate dialogue between Dublin Local Authorities, artists, early childhood educators and organisations.
• To build on current research investigating practice across artforms, professional disciplines and context.
• To generate advocacy in early childhood arts.