Applications open for Living Arts

WEXFORD County Council Arts Department, in partnership with Wexford Arts Centre, is seeking applications from primary schools and visual artists to participate in the Living Arts Project.

Starting in late September, the aim of the Living Arts Project is to provide children with an understanding and appreciation of contemporary visual art. Selected primary schools will have the opportunity to host an artist in residence during the school year.

Four Wexford-based artists will be partnered with schools to create a body of work over the academic year. The residencies prioritise the development of the artists’ practice within the project and encourage engaging work from the pupils. The project offers teachers an opportunity to observe and learn creative processes for use in the classroom.

The Arts Department is also inviting artists and schools to apply for a new School Studio Residency. This residency is aimed specifically at schools that have additional space to dedicate to an artist for their own personal practice.

The artist will work and facilitate workshops in this space, engaging with all class groups while availing of the space to develop their own practice.

All the residencies will culminate in an exhibition by participating schools at Wexford Arts Centre in April/May 2021.

Pupils taking part in the project will have the benefit of detailed guidance from the artist over the period of the residency and the opportunity to see their work exhibited in a gallery.

The Arts Department is now receiving applications from interested primary schools and visual artists for lead and assistant roles. Joint applications for artists seeking to fulfil lead and assistant roles are welcome.

The deadline for expressions of interest is 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 21.

For more information on the Living Arts Project including an application form log on to www.livingartsproject.ie or email catherine@wexfordartscentre.ie.