Offaly County Council Arts Office invites professional artists, individuals or groups, to work with youth organisations to submit a proposal for the delivery of a Youth Arts Project for the cohort of 13 to 25 year olds within Offaly. The commission is open to submissions from all art disciplines including visual arts, film, animation, digital arts, performing arts, literature, or sound art. The commission can concentrate on one art form or a range of art forms but must include the participation of/engagement with a professional artist. Young people’s active participation and the co-creation of work should be central to the youth arts project.

Youth Arts Provision is embedded into the framework and strategies of the Arts Office Offaly County Council. Throughout the years the Council has delivered numerous programmes which engaged young people. There have been times of increased and decreased attendance and interest. Further information is available in the Arts Office Youth Arts Report The Makings Fostering Creativity Youth Creativity can be download by clicking on this link

Leading on from this report, the Arts Office wish to commission a number of small youth project(s) that will enable engagement between professional artists and young people (13+) facilitated by youth organisations, youth leaders and schools.

 

Youth arts is a process-based practice, focused on the experience of working together through the arts: making work, building skills, expressing feelings and ideas through art, sharing what is made with others, and connecting with ourselves and others through the process. The goal of the commissions is to build secure relationships with relevant partners for the development of Youth Arts in the county, with the voice of young people being a priority.

Process and engagement with the Young People in Offaly should be central to the project and the inspiration should stem from their needs and wants. Young people should be consulted about the project design and application so their needs, interests and decisions can influence and inspire the work.

 

If there is a specific outcome (i.e. piece of art or performance), consideration should be given to how that would be showcased. While there is not a specific requirement to showcase any artistic outcome (piece of art, performance etc.) if this project element is of interest, artists are encouraged to work with their participating group to find a way to share their work that is appropriate to the experience and background of the young people as well as the aim and scope of the project. 

Artists should also think about who they are proposing to work with and, when building local partnerships for the youth arts project, consider the extent to which their project will be easily accessible for young people, have a wide reach and encourage the engagement of young people who may not already be participating in the arts.

The successful applicants will need to submit interim reports, documentation, and a final assessment.

A maximum budget of €5,000.00 is available per project, with a maximum of three projects. The maximum funding will only be allocated to projects deemed to be exceptional by the panel). The budget is a total cost and must include all travel, materials, VAT. Applicants will only be eligible to make one project application.

We are very flexible, open to timelines, but the project must be completed within six months of selection (depending on the complexity of the project). 

Applicants proposing to work with Young People within a school setting will need to pay particular attention to school terms, holidays etc., and should have made contact with the school/youth organization they are planning to work with, i.e. a support letter from the school/youth organization will be required.  

The successful applicant/s will:

·      Have at least 3 years’ relevant experience delivering youth led arts initiatives/projects

·      Be a Professional Artist or group of Professional Artists*

·      Be self-employed or a registered Arts Organisation

·      Be able to provide tax clearance number and access number

·      Third Level Qualification in given discipline is desirable but not essential

·      Have recommended Child Safeguarding Training*

·      Demonstrate the ability to work with multiple stakeholders

·      Hold professional indemnity insurance

·      Be able to submit Health and Safety/ Risk assessments

·      Be subject to Garda Vetting by Offaly County Council

·      Hold a current/full Irish/ E.U Driving License.

*see appendix

Strictly 15th February @ 4pm 

APPENDIX

You will need:

1.    To complete the online application which includes:

a)    Personal Contact information*

b)    Description of Project

c)    Outline of participant engagement, delivery, schedule, objectives, perceived results.

d)    Budget – breakdown of budget costs.

 

2.    Upload a one pdf document that includes the following

a)    A cover letter outlining your suitability

b)    Curriculum Vitae with References (for all artists involved)

c)    Links to previous works

d)    Any more details you may feel relevant

*see appendix

Artists please note: Offaly County Council is subject to the Freedom of Information Act, 1997. If you provide information in the Proposal which you consider to be of a commercially sensitive nature, please clearly indicate this in your Proposal.

Proposals will be evaluated by an independent board of peers and will be weighted according

·      30% Proven track record of delivery of similar successful projects. Experience / track record of artist/s delivering the project

·      30% Innovative approach to the project and engagement of young people and the process

·      20% Budget viability. Achievability of perceived results and objectives of the project.

·      20% The application within the competitive context.

N.B. Garda vetting must be sought for the Artist immediately upon appointment. The Artist shall not engage in any aspect of the duties that would be termed ‘relevant work’ as defined in the relevant Children and Vulnerable Persons legislation until the Garda Vetting process is finalised.

                           

A Professional Artist can be defined as someone for whom their art form is their whole-time occupation or who holds a third level qualification in their field of practice or has been paid and advertised as a solo or leading performer/exhibitor in a state funded institution or has been published or produced by a recognised publisher or theatre/film company or venue or is recognised as a professional by his/her peers and received recognition in the form of commendations, rewards, awards, grants, appointments to panels, etc.

 

In line with Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017) Offaly County Council is required to ensure that contracts issued to anyone whose work brings them in contact with children are meeting their obligations under the Children First Act 2015.

Any appointment will be made in adherence to Offaly County Council Child Protection Policy and Offaly County Council Arts Service Child Safety Statement.

 

This Statement sets out our policy with respect to ‘Personal Data’ which is collected from applicants. Personal Data is information that can be associated with, or which relates to a person, and/or could be used to identify a person. We collect Personal Data including name. address, phone number, email from applicants for the purpose of processing your application and informing you of outcomes of evaluation. The application and proposal is stored on Arts Office computer and on a secure external server with submit.com, only accessible by Arts Office staff. It will be shared with a selected panel (of two experts) for the purpose of evaluating and marking same. Unsuccessful proposals are held for a maximum of four years and then deleted. For further information please visit our Data Protection web page.