This month the President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, will visit the Arts Council’s offices in Dublin and announce our fifth Laureate na nÓg. As you can imagine, this, along with the enormous success of the initiative, makes us very happy.
Like most success in the arts it did not happen overnight. In 2009, we developed a comprehensive vision, strategy and action plan for children’s literature. Central to this new strategy was the establishment of a children’s laureate, a role designed to celebrate children’s literature and its contribution to cultural life; our inaugural Laureate na nÓg Siobhán Parkinson was announced in May 2010.
We had high hopes for this initiative, but we could not have anticipated the extent of Laureate na nÓg’s reach or the depth of its impact. From Siobhán Parkinson’s Laureate International Library to Niamh Sharkey’s Pictiúr to Eoin Colfer’s Once Upon a Place – each Laureate has left a meaningful creative legacy and inspired a new generation of readers, writers and illustrators.
Our fourth Laureate na nÓg, the celebrated author and illustrator PJ Lynch, will complete his two-year term this month. His project – The Big Picture – focused on the art of illustration and visual storytelling that celebrates children’s literature and the power of the imagination. Over the past two years, PJ Lynch has participated in regular podcasts where he discussed various aspects of illustration and picturebook making. He also initiated a number of significant public art projects in partnership with festivals, communities and schools that encapsulate the theme of storytelling through visual art. On behalf of the Council, I would like to thank PJ for his incredible passion and commitment.
A European Union / South African (EU - SA) delegation of arts professionals connected with community arts centres in South Africa, France and Flanders will visit Ireland in May 2018.
The Arts Council’s collection supports artists’ and public engagement with the arts. It does this by purchasing excellent contemporary work to be enjoyed and valued through display and programmes delivered directly and with partners. Through the collection, the Arts Council also acts as a custodian and carer of great art on behalf of the people of Ireland.
The application window for the 2018 Visual Arts Bursary Award, Round 2 will open on 12 June 2018. The deadline for the scheme is 5.30pm on Thursday, 12 July, 2018.
The application window for the 2019 Visual Arts Workspace Scheme will open on 8 May 2018. The deadline for the scheme is 5.30pm on Thursday, 7 June, 2018.
The application window for the Engaging with Architecture Scheme 2018 opened on 8 May 2018. The deadline for the scheme is 5.30pm on Thursday, 7 June, 2018.
The purpose of the Next Generation Artists’ Award is to support a group of promising artists across all disciplines at an early but pivotal stage in their career.
The deadline for this award is 5:30 p.m. Thursday 21 June 2018. The window for making an application opens on Tuesday, 22 May 2018.
This bursary provides a significant opportunity for practitioners of any discipline (visual, performing, musical, literature, media, technology) to deliver a project responding to the emerging digital society.
Are you involved in an arts and health project? Would you like to showcase your work to a larger audience? artsandhealth.ie invites applications for a €4000 bursary to produce a short film, audio documentary or publication about an arts and health project.
The Irish Writers Centre is seeking applications for a new initiative offering writers the opportunity to develop ideas, projects, collaborations and literary supports in Irish.
The Irish Chamber Orchestra is back on the road with DEATH AND THE MAIDEN visiting St. Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick on Wednesday 16 May, to coincide with the cathedral’s 850th Anniversary celebrations.
To support the current and future development of both new and existing Music Education Partnerships, Music Generation is now inviting applications for the role of Music Education Partnership Support Manager.
Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB) invites applications from suitably qualified persons for the positions of Administrator, Music Generation Waterford (1 post) and Administrator, Music Generation Wexford (1 post).
The Creative Europe Desk Ireland – Culture Office is hosting a free half-day seminar on audience development for cultural organisations on Friday 11 May 2018 at 10am in Wood Quay (Dublin City Council Civic Offices) and we would love to see you there!
This strand of funding is open to publishers and publishing houses to apply for co-financing for the translation, publication and promotion of literary fiction from and into eligible languages.
The Creative Europe Desk Ireland – Culture Office will be hosting an information table at the Visual Artists’ Ireland (VAI) Get Together 2018 on the 21 May in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham.
