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Deadline Reminder | Curator in Residence at St John’s Theatre and Arts Centre, Co. Kerry
€15,000.00
St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre with the support of The Arts Council Audience Development Programme invite expressions of interest from Artistic Curators for a residency award at St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre, Listowel, Co Kerry.
Curator in Residence Contract
The residency will run for six months, between May and October 2021.
Appointment will be via an application process which will be managed by St John’s Theatre and assessed independently.
The Fee will be €12,000 Plus €3,000 towards project work.
The Curator in Residence will work on a freelance basis and will invoice the Venue in two stages, July and September, with a project review after stage one.
Working hours will be agreed with the Artistic Director and may fluctuate depending on project. The first phase will entail networking, research and meeting with relevant personnel and organisations to enable the integration of the curator into the artistic community.
The residency will enable St John’s Arts Centre Theatre to nurture a deeper, enriched and socially engaged artistic and cultural practice in Listowel and its surrounding areas.
St John’s Theatre now wishes to reimagine and reposition itself as a creative hub for North of the County. The appointed Curator will research and propose approaches that the arts centre would adopt to centre it and increase its connections and relevance to the people of North Kerry. These approaches may take the form of residencies, commissions, community-based development days, artist awards and conversations to bring this engagement to life. The curator in residence programme will, itself, provide time and space for a Curator to research at a grassroots level with a view to generating active creative, engagement, in the town and its hinterland of North Kerry.
We aim to appoint a Curator who has experience of and insights into the challenges of rural areas and accessing people in sparsely populated areas. The appointment will be for an initial period of six months during which s/he will work closely with the Centre Director.
Description and role
St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre is particularly interested in the work of curators who demonstrate a commitment to and interest in rurality, isolation, nature and the environment, afforestation, diversity in rural contexts and the connections and common ground that exist between people regardless of where their location.
This is a challenging time for artists and communities alike. St John’s recognises the challenge posed to community engagement at a time of physical distancing, but we are also conscious of the urgent demands and increasing role of the arts in reducing isolation through creative provision and increased engagement.
We would like to play our role in creating opportunities for civic, social and community groups and individuals to grow new ideas and to stay active, engaged and connected and we firmly believe that a curator in residence programme will shape this role with and for us.
We are open to applications from curators of all disciplines and while the space does not house a dedicated gallery the curator could consider alternative and open space as sites in which art in the public realm can be realised in the town and throughout North Kerry.
Key objectives in creating this role for this period are as follows:
- To work with St John’s Theatre to reposition it as a centre with relevance and connection beyond Listowel and into its rural hinterland.
- To research possible further dimensions and new perspectives including new approaches to public engagement, in consultation with the Artistic Director.
- To work and participate with the Directors on artistic projects as determined by grant allocations.
- To identify and connect with communities to participate and engage with St John’s Theatre through expanded outreach initiatives and organisations and to reach new audiences.
- Highlight the uniqueness of Kerry and of St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre and bring an ambitious contemporary approach that will acknowledge the past and now face the reality of contemporary living in the county.
- Research and develop in the tradition of the great local literary voices like John B Keane and Bryan MacMahon and more, the rich seam of contemporary life stories and experiences of the people of North Kerry, we would like to delve into farming lives – new and past, young, and old, those ‘new to our parish’, their experiences and this ever-changing place.
- Consider our own approach to rurality, isolation, nature and the environment.
- Shape a new curatorial programme for St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre that forms part of our three-year strategy 2021-2024.
Eligibility
- Curators based in Ireland.
- Curatorial vision and track record with a knowledge of a range of media
- Demonstrable curatorial experience ideally – not essential, desirable – in anarts facility context with a strong participatory focus.
- Artists whose practice is collaborative or who have a strong interest indeveloping their collaborative practice.
- Strong working knowledge of the contemporary arts landscape and practicein Ireland and strong network with artists and arts organisations across theCountry.
- Proven ability to build relationships with artists, communities, and existingand new audiences.
- Proven project management skills in planning and coordinating projects fromcuration through to delivery, with relevant experience of promoting andproducing events and programmes.
- Knowledge of the artistic landscape in Kerry and outside of large urbancentres e.g., access to LCGA, Art Colleges
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
Timeframe
April – advertisement and invitation to present for the position of curator in residence.
May – appointment of curator in residence based on a limited invitation followed by a research phase including meetings with communities and audit of spaces for use in creating and delivering programme – we anticipate that the curator will work all over North Kerry with St John’s Theatre as the creative hub for the overall residency.
May-July – research and beginning of pilot projects. Review with Artistic Director after first two months of residency. August – project work pilot continues, Curator in residence actioning engagement. Also, curator researching with Director, possible avenues of support for commissions and project development with St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre.
September – curator pilot project continues working together, public ‘moment’ for overall project in planning. Second review of Residency and the possibility if its continuance.
October – Residency finish with presentation to the Board of St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre.
How to apply and deadlines
Step 1
Expression of interest deadline date: Friday 23rd April 2021 You are invited to submit the following:
- Contact details, name, telephone, email, address.
- A statement which includes a include a summary of your curatorial arts practice – how you work with other people or communities – and an indication of why you want this Residency, why it interests you why you think your practice fits the purpose of the award and what your artistic goals and ambitions and how your Residency will engage and build audiences.
- A recent biography (up to 500 words)
- A selection of up to five recent projects with images and descriptions. If you have relevant links to videos, please include them.
- Motivation and outline work plan for the residency
** Only eligible applicants will be invited to the next stage of the application process **
Step 2
- Presentation week commencing 3rd May 2021.
- Applicants do a short presentation on their practice and reasons for applying to the award to a selection panel.
- development of and/or consolidate
- Due to COVID-19 it is anticipated that the presentations will happen via Zoom. If applicants can travel and following public health guidelines, all expenses incurred to attend the presentation day will be covered.
Step 3
- Notification of award outcome: Mid-May
- All applicants will be notified of the application outcome via email and feedback can be requested.
Step 4
- The successful applicant will meet with Artistic Director of St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre to discuss how the opportunity can be best tailored to their needs vis a vis space, accessibility, additional support, and logistics in terms of travel, accommodation, and subsistence.
- This is an opportunity for our selection panel to hear about your work, why you believe the residency will contribute to the your practice and an opportunity for you to ask questions.
Sending in your application
Completed applications must be sent to St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre by either by email to maire@stjohnstheatre.ie or if there are big files please use ‘We Transfer’ (details below).
How to use WeTransfer
- Go to www.wetransfer.com
- Select ‘Take me to Free’
- Enter recipient email address: maire@stjohnstheatre.ie
- Enter your own email address
- Add the file(s) you wish to send
- Add the message – St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre Curator in Residentand your name.
- Click ‘Transfer’
- You will get an email from WeTransfer to confirm the file has been sent andanother email when the file is downloaded by St John’s Theatre & ArtsCentre.
The upload limit is 2GB.Any queries regarding the application transfer can be sent tomaire@stjohnstheatre.ie
The open call is being advertised through usual arts channels, informal networks.
Deadline: Friday 23rd April 2021