In partnership with Dublin City Council Sports Section, we invite applications from artists to spend 11 months in residence in a designated Community Sports and Recreation Centre.

Closing date for applications is Monday 12 August 2024.

Dublin City Council Culture Company runs cultural initiatives and buildings across the city with, and for, the people of Dublin. We create ways for people in Dublin to see and make culture together, based on their stories, wishes and experiences.

The Creative Residency in Sport and Recreation Centres is a partnership between Dublin City Council Sports Section and Dublin City Council Culture Company. Through the residency, four artists will be selected and assigned to one sports or recreation centre each, for a period of 11 months. The residency is an opportunity to try out ideas, develop and share new ways of working, and facilitate the introduction of new audiences to Dublin’s sports and cultural offer. 

We are looking for creative and collaborative individuals who share in our belief of connecting people and communities through culture and conversation. We would like to hear from anyone who can demonstrate the necessary interest, skills, knowledge or experience as per the requirements detailed below. We encourage applications from individuals from varied and diverse backgrounds, experience, and artforms.

Timeline

• Open call issued: Friday 12 July 2024
• Deadline for submission of application: Monday 12 August 2024
• Interviews of shortlisted artists: week of 26 August 2024
• Issue of contracts: 9 September 2024
• Residency dates: September 2024 - July 2025 (c.80 days, schedule of dates to be agreed with the selected artist)
  • Phase 1: September to October - preparatory work, visits, engagement
  • Phase 2: November to June - project activities
  • Phase 3: July - evaluation and wrap up

About the Residency

Made by Dublin City Council Culture Company, the Creative Residency programme creates partnerships to try out ideas, test new approaches and add to the cultural story of the city. Creative Residencies encourage makers and experts to pilot new partnerships with organisations. By bringing creative people and organisations together, and by connecting through culture and conversation, we will develop and share new ways of working.

This residency will provide the opportunity for four artists to work closely with Dublin City Council Sports and Recreation Centres, including the centre manager and team, existing customers (individuals, teams, groups), any tenants in-situ in the building, and members of the wider local community. Using a people-first approach, the artists will lead a process of engagement that can respond to identified local needs through creativity, culture and conversation. This may include activating under-used spaces, fostering greater community in the building or reaching particular target groups. The four participating centres are:

• Ballybough Community, Youth and Sports Centre: a multi-functional facility serving the social, educational and recreational life of communities within the Ballybough area.
• Bluebell Community and Recreation Centre: a multi-functional place for the community. Within the building there is a sports hall, a gym and activity room, with a full-sized all-weather Astro pitch out front. The local Youth Centre is also annexed to the centre.
• Irishtown Sports & Fitness Centre: a multi-purpose sports facility in the heart of Ringsend. In addition to the gym and football pitches, Irishtown boasts a fully equipped athletics track.
• Poppintree Community Sports Centre: a multi-functional facility serving the social and recreational life of communities in Poppintree and the surrounding areas. The centre is also home to The Aisling Project, Poppintree Youth Project, Poppintree Early Education Centre, Ballymun Boxing Club, St. Pappin's Boxing Club, and the Community Employment Scheme.

Residency activities should be responsive to any identified needs and interests, and may have multiple components such as workshops, discussion or events. At the end of the residency, outcomes may include new artwork(s), or may comprise solely of process-based work.

Where artworks are made they may include (but are not limited to) exhibition, performance, publication, photography, film and music. Such artworks will remain available to the sports centre, Dublin City Council Sports and Leisure Services and the Culture Company for future presentation if requested. Any new work created as part of the residency will remain copyright of the artist (or shared ownership with other authors of the work if it is a co-created piece), however a licence for unlimited non-commercial use must be granted to Dublin City Council Culture Company and Dublin City Council Sports Section in perpetuity. The Culture Company will always credit the artist/author(s).

The residency will be managed by Dublin City Council Culture Company and overseen by an Advisory Group comprising representatives from Dublin City Council Sports and Leisure Services, the identified sports and recreation centres, and Dublin City Council Culture Company.

Artists will be supported by creative producers, a network of fellow artists, and the Culture Company engagement team for making and building new connections and relationships in local communities. Built into the residency is the opportunity to share practice, avail of peer meet-ups, mentoring and learning opportunities.

Each of the four selected artists will be offered a Contract for Service with a fee of up to €16,000 to cover approximately 80 days spent working on the residency, including development, studio time, preparation, contact time and admin. The working pattern and programme of work will be agreed with the successful applicants. Additional funds may be allocated to cover the cost of materials and production, for the creation of artworks or other residency outputs as agreed with the Culture Company.

Artists based in Ireland, with a proven track record of working creatively and collaboratively, are eligible. Please note that this residency does not include accommodation, so it will best suit Dublin-based artists.

The residency is open to any medium (architecture, circus, crafts, dance, digital media, film, music, theatre, writing, visual art, and multi-disciplinary practice and design of all kinds).

The selected artists will be asked to:

• complete the residency within the 11 month time frame and spend approximately 80 days actively working on the project, including contact time, studio time, preparation and admin. The working pattern and programme of work will be agreed with the successful applicants;
• work closely with centre managers, users and local communities to plan, develop and deliver relevant process and activities;
• work collaboratively with Dublin City Council Culture Company’s engagement team to develop relationships and connections with people in the community;
• maintain regular contact with the Project Manager and provide updates and reporting from the residency as directed as per templates and guidelines provided;
• attend artist networking meetups, as well as regular meetings with the Advisory Group, or other meetings and events as required of the Dublin City Council Sports and Leisure Services and the Culture Company (meetings are intended to provide support, guidance, development opportunities and to promote the residency and the artist);
• work in line with best practice and Dublin City Council Culture Company Child Protection, Data Protection, and Health and Safety policies and ensure compliance with all financial, contractual, legal procedures.

Evaluation of Submissions and Award Criteria

Applications will be evaluated on the basis of the most advantageous submissions in terms of the following award criteria:

• Evidence of previous experience of successfully working on open-ended, community-led and co-created projects.
• Have a high-quality artistic practice.
• Be an experienced group facilitator and/or have experience of guiding people through a creative process, ideally in a wide range of contexts and environments.
• Be an excellent listener and communicator, at all times working with a people-first approach.
• Demonstrate an understanding of, and interest in, the theme of art and sport.
• Clear evidence of good organisational skills, the ability to work independently and to deadlines, and in a professional manner.
• Demonstrate the ability to work in an accessible and inclusive way and to communicate well.

Application Requirements

Applications are now invited from applicants who meet these published requirements.

Please send:

• A cover letter (one A4 page maximum) outlining why you want this residency, and how your specific skills, knowledge and experience are relevant to the role specification and requirements.
• A proposal​ (one A4 page maximum) An outline of your initial ideas and a description of how you would approach the residency over 11 months, if successful.
• An up to date CV outlining relevant experience (two A4 pages maximum)
• Examples of previous work - this may be submitted in the following ways:
  • a link to an online portfolio and/or website(s) showcasing your work
  • weblinks to video, text, audio or image files which form part of your body of work

Please do not send image, audio or video files as email attachments with your application.

Applicants must submit one complete application, by email on or before midnight on Monday 12th August 2024 with the subject line: “Application for Creative Residency in Sport and Leisure Centres.”

Please send your application by email to opencall@dublincitycouncilculturecompany.ie.

Queries can also be addressed by email to the above address. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

The required material supplied in your application will be reviewed against the criteria set out in this notice. Dublin City Council Culture Company reserves the right to short-list applicants for interview. If interviews take place, they will be held during the week of 26 August 2024. All applicants will be notified of the status of their application at this time. It will not be possible to provide application process feedback to unsuccessful applicants. The successful applicants will be notified no later than 4 September 2024 and will be issued a contract for service. 

Other Notes

Dublin City Council Culture Company is committed to developing policies and practices ensuring that accessibility, Universal Design and reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities are taken into account when providing services for Dublin’s citizens, communities, cultural organisations, businesses, and Dublin City Council itself.

Please note that both the museum at 14 Henrietta Street and Richmond Barracks are Part M access compliant, and the offices of Dublin City Council Culture Company in both have limited physical access. Reasonable accommodation of access requirements will be made for successful applicants. Interviews will take place in an accessible location.

In line with developing business needs, the Culture Company reserves the right to invite additional providers of artist and creative facilitator services throughout the duration of the panel.

About Dublin City Council Culture Company

Dublin City Council Culture Company runs cultural initiatives and buildings across the city with, and for, the people of Dublin.

We collaborate with people, communities, cultural organisations, businesses, and Dublin City Council to embed cultural experiences and increase cultural participation throughout Dublin.

Dublin City Council Culture Company was incorporated in March 2018. Our vision is for a Dublin where culture connects everyone and everything. Our mission is to connect people through culture and conversation to ignite imaginations and experiences. 

For more information, see our Programmes here.

About Dublin City Council Sports and Leisure Centres

Dublin City Council Sports and Leisure Services are here to keep Dublin's communities fit, healthy and active. Across the city, we provide a wide range of sporting, leisure and community services that allow you and your community to stay active and connect in a safe, positive and accessible manner.

Find out more at dublincity.ie/residential/sports-and-leisure