Award schemes for Wicklow artists
WICKLOW County Arts Office has announced the opening of its Award Schemes for 2021 and is inviting applications from interested artists and groups.
The schemes will feature a new online service where applicants can upload their applications.
‘ This new service is streamlined to assist both applicants and the arts office to make the overall service more efficient and user friendly,’ said arts officer Jenny Sherwin.
In addition, the awards take into account the likely challenges faced by the arts sector and communities in Wicklow in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and its aftermath.
Applicants are encouraged to plan for online and virtual presentation of arts projects and to take into account the need to plan for safety and social distancing in all public-facing events for the foreseeable future. The deadline for receipt of applications is 4 p.m. on Monday, February 15.
The award schemes include two programmes at this time: The Artist Support Awards Scheme 2021 and the Artist and Community Collaboration Awards Scheme 2021.
The objective of the Individual Artist Awards Scheme is to assist artists to develop their arts practice. The purpose of the scheme is to allow artists working in any context to realise a specific body of work or training that will enhance their arts practice and development.
The objective of the Artist and Community Collaboration Award Scheme 2021 is to support artists and community organisations in the realisation of an arts project or programme which will support their artistic development.
The Arts Grants are offered each year to support individual artists and to enable the development of creative community projects and events of high quality and impact. This call is open to artists and to arts groups and organisations across all arts disciplines who are based or working in Co Wicklow.
Successful proposals will add significant value to arts practices, arts experiences and/or participation in the arts in County Wicklow and support the Council’s strategic goals for the arts.
In 2021, through the extension of these schemes, a diverse range of creative projects will be cultivated in the county, which will nurture artists’ practice, create connectivity, generate new perspectives and voices within the cultural life of the county and support a myriad of high-calibre arts events.
In addition to the awards schemes, Wicklow County Council Arts Office is making available a series of direct supports to assist
artists and organisations in seeking funding in 2021. Booking is essential for all workshops and is on a first come, first served basis.
On Wednesday, January 20, there will be an online webinar for individual artists or artists in organisations to assist them in the preparation of funding applications. Then on Thursday, January 21, there will be online 45-minute clinics for individual artists applying to the Arts Council’s Bursary Scheme. Artists will have the opportunity to review/receive advice on their applications by Helen Meany and Paul Johnson.
Following this, on Monday, January 25, at 11 a.m., an online workshop will take people through the new process of applying and submitting applications online. The session will be delivered by Denise McDonagh and Liz Kelly.
Applications can be for a research and development phase of a new initiative or for the production/implementation of a new arts project or programme for 2021.
Applications are particularly welcome from artists and communities shaping projects together that take into account the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions that have resulted from it for both artists and communities. The maximum award under this scheme has been increased to €5,000 in 2021.
The Arts Festivals Award Scheme will be made available later on 2021 in light of current Covid-19 restrictions.
The closing date for all applications is February 15 at 4 p.m.