Exploring & Thinking Early Childhood Arts Residency Awards 2026/27

The Dublin region Local Authorities and Children and Young People’s Services Committees (CYPSC) are working in partnership to support early childhood arts practice and to increase access to quality arts experiences for children experiencing homelessness.

The partnership invites applications from artists to develop and deliver early childhood arts residencies within homeless accommodation services across the four local authority administrative areas. We invite applications from artists who propose to collaborate with other artists and/or creative practitioners.

The Dublin region Local Authorities and Children and Young People’s Services Committees (CYPSC) are working in partnership to support early childhood arts practice and to increase access to quality arts experiences for children experiencing homelessness.
The partnership invites applications from artists to develop and deliver early childhood arts residencies within homeless accommodation services across the four local authority administrative areas. We invite applications from artists who propose to collaborate with other artists and/or creative practitioners.
 
One residency award is available in each of the following areas: 

• Dún Laoghaire - Rathdown County
• Dublin City North
• Dublin City South
• South Dublin
• Fingal

Homelessness amongst children and families is consistently increasing. In March 2026, the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive reported that 1,866 families and 4,118 children were living in emergency accommodation. The types of accommodation provided range from hotels and B&Bs to family hubs, most of which are supported by Non-Governmental Organisations.
For all young children, family and accommodation circumstances have a huge influence on their health and wellbeing and life opportunities. Families experiencing homelessness have described feelings of insecurity that cause stress, while the temporary nature of many of these situations may also bring about feelings of anxiety.
 
What will an artist receive from this Residency Award?
Early childhood arts include a wide range of different arts practices and creative experiences with and for children aged 0-5 years.
This Residency Award offers: 

•  A maximum budget of €13,000 for each residency award. This fee is to research, develop and deliver a project with children aged 0- 5 years and their adult caregivers in an assigned homeless accommodation service.
• Support from the Local Authority and CYPSC partners and accommodation services.
• Three facilitated peer-to-peer reflective learning sessions, estimated to be one half-day each, and covered within the budget allocation of each residency award.

 
What do the partners expect from the artist for this Residency Award? 

• Research and development to commence by November 2026.
• Completion of a minimum of 10 artistic engagements by June 2027.
• Navigation of fluctuating participation if necessary.
• Consideration of how to deliver this residency in a shared living environment.
• Employment of ethical and appropriate documentation methods, approved in advance by the partners and accommodation service.
• Participation in three facilitated peer-to-peer learning sessions with artists working across the Dublin region - one in December 2026 and two between January and June 2027. 

Note: There is no expectation for a public outcome or public dissemination of documentation.
 
What are the Objectives and Priorities for this Residency Award? 

• Reach early years children experiencing homelessness through meaningful and high-quality arts engagement.
• Support artistic ambition, professional development, and collaboration in early childhood arts.
• Promote access, participation and inclusion for children aged 0-5 years and their adult caregivers with an emphasis on those experiencing homelessness.
• Encourage research, experimentation and innovation in early childhood arts practice.
• Stimulate dialogue between the Dublin local authorities and the CYPSCs, artists, and homelessness support services.
• Support reflective, ethical and evidence-informed practice in early childhood arts.
• Build on existing knowledge and experience across artforms, professional disciplines and social contexts.
• Contribute to advocacy in early childhood arts.
• Encourage sustainable approaches that are achievable, realistic and responsive to identified needs.

Who can apply?
1.     Artists who propose to collaborate with other artists and/or creative practitioners
        a)  throughout the development and delivery of the residency
or
       b) at an identified point of development and delivery of the residency
2.     Individual artists with a named collaborator/s who wish to develop their practice in early childhood arts.
3.     Artists practicing in all art forms.
4.     Artists with experience of working with early years children experiencing disadvantage.
 
How do I apply? 
Click the button below to apply online