Open Call: John Coolahan Early Years Artist Residency 2019/20

The Ark is delighted to invite professional artists from the fields of dance, theatre or music to apply for our second 12 month Early Years Artist Residency, running from May 2019-April 2020

About the John Coolahan Artist Residency

This artist residency opportunity has been established in honour of John Coolahan, who sadly passed away earlier this year. John was a longstanding member of The Ark board and a leading champion for arts education in Ireland.

Beginning in 2018, this residency aims to honour the legacy of Professor Coolahan by providing the selected artist with a yearlong opportunity to develop his/her early years arts practice in association with The Ark.

This opportunity recognises the importance of the arts in early childhood and aims to nurture and support the development of professional artists working in this emerging sector of arts practice.

The inaugural John Coolahan Early Years Artist in Residence at The Ark is visual artist Lucy Hill who will be in post until April 2019. As The Ark wishes to establish the residency as an annual opportunity, we are now seeking a new artist from the fields of dance, theatre or music who will take up the residency for a year from May 2019 when Lucy’s tenure comes to an end.

For further details of the residency, see https://ark.ie/projects/details/john-coolahan-early-years-artist-residency

The Opportunity:

This call out is for a lead artist who will become The Ark’s Early Years Artist in Residence for one year from May 2019 to April 2020. This opportunity is suitable for professional artists from the fields of dance, theatre or music only, with an existing early years practice who are interested in the opportunities and benefits of a long-term residency to develop their artistic career.

The selected artist will have a strong vision for how they would like to deepen the range of their experience, knowledge and practice with this age group through the unique context of this residency in collaboration with The Ark.

Dates: May 2019 to April 2020
Target Audience: Children aged 2 -4 years
Residency Focus: Participatory workshop practice
Fee for the residency (including planning/prep time): €7,800
Travel and Training budget: max €1,000

How to Apply:

If you are a professional artist working in dance, theatre or music in the area of early years and interested and available to undertake a yearlong opportunity, then please read the detailed application guidelines for more details.

Please complete the online application form. Only applications received via the online form will be accepted.

Completed applications must be received by 5pm on Tuesday 30th October 2018. No applications will be accepted after this deadline. See the guidelines for details of interview dates and shortlisting process.

Residency Open Information Sessions

Residency open information sessions will take place in The Ark on Monday 8 October 2018 @ 12pm and 4pm. Attendance at one of these sessions for potential applicants is completely optional. There is no need to book – simply turn up.