Artist in the Community

Create has announced information about the Artist in the Community Scheme 2010, which it manages for the Arts Council.

Twice yearly, the Arts Council offers grants to enable artists and communities of place/or interest to work together on projects. The scheme is open to artists from any of the following artform disciplines: architecture, circus, street art and spectacle, dance, film, literature (Irish and English language), music, opera, theatre, visual arts and traditional arts.

The aim of the scheme is to encourage meaningful collaboration between communities of place and/or interest and artists. It is essential that consultation take place between the artist and the community group, so that both parties are involved in deciding on the nature of the project realisation. Group ownership of the art should be maintained at every stage. The Project Realisation may result in a variety of outcomes.

There are two phases to the Artist in the Community (AIC) scheme:

Phase One, Research & Development, is open to artists who wish to research and develop a project in a community context. Maximum time frame is 3 months. The maximum amount awarded in Phase One is €1,000.

New this year: Phase One, Research & Development/Mentoring is open to artists who wish to develop a community based project and who have identified an artist mentor they want to work with a during the research and development phase. The maximum award is €1500, which includes €500 fee payable to the mentor.

Deadlines in 2010: Friday 26 February 5pm and Friday 25 June 5pm.

Phase Two, Project Realisation, is open to communities of interest or place (or their representative organisations), planning a project of between 6 weeks and 5 months duration with a maximum award of €5000, and those who are planning a project of between 6 months and 9 months with a maximum award of €10,000.

Deadlines in 2010: Friday 26 February 5pm and Friday 25 June 5pm.

For further information on application criteria and assessment, or to book an advisory session about the Scheme, contact Katherine Atkinson, Professional Development, 01-4736600 or email support@create-ireland.ie

Application forms are available from the web site.