Scéim An Ealaíontóra Sa Phobal

2019 Deadlines: (Round 1) Monday 25 March; (Round 2) Monday 29 July.

Are you an artist working collaboratively with a community? Are you an artist or community group with an interest in working on a collaborative, socially engaged project?

Twice yearly, the Arts Council offers awards to enable artists and communities of place and/or interest to work together on projects. The Artist in the Community Scheme (AIC) is managed by Create.

The AIC 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. Projects can take place in a diverse range of social and community contexts, for example healthcare contexts, prisons, community development organisations. Visit our Case Studies to see examples of previous projects, or look at previous recipient info.

Collaborative practice is about meaningful creative engagement between artists, communities of interest or of place, and diverse audiences. Collaborative practice fosters a sense of equal-ownership. It is about cultivating a creative process through…

The aim of the AIC 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, so that both parties are involved in deciding on the nature of the project’s realisation. Group ownership of the art should be maintained at every stage.

There are two strands to the scheme.

Strand One

The Research & Development Award is open to artists who wish to research and develop a project in a community context.

The Research & Development Award with 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 strand.

The Recent Graduate Research and Development Award (with Mentoring) specifically targets emerging artists / practitioners who have completed their undergraduate degree within the last three years, and are interested in developing or exploring, or are establishing a professional career in collaborative arts practice.

The Research and Development Award with Mentoring for an artist from an ethnic minority background is for an artist who wishes to develop a community based project and who has identified an artist mentor they want to work with during the research and development phase. This award offers additional funding and a slightly longer timeframe.

While there is one R&D award with Mentoring ring-fenced for an artist from a minority ethnic background in each round, all applications for this award will also be considered for the regular Research & Development Award with mentoring.

Strand Two

The Project Realisation Award is open to communities of interest or place (or their representative organisations) with an artist.

For further information on the AIC scheme and how to apply see our awards page.