Open Call | Our Shared Plate from Kildare County Council Arts Service and Neighbourhood Network
Kildare County Council Arts Service and Neighbourhood Network are seeking applications from professional artists across all art forms to engage with a food security and neighbourhood climate action project called Our Shared Plate.
Our Shared Plate Artist/Creative Practitioner Call Out
Kildare County Council Arts Service and Neighbourhood Network are seeking applications from professional artists across all art forms to engage with a food security and neighbourhood climate action project called Our Shared Plate. This artist opportunity is funded by Kildare County Council Arts Service.
Deadline for application is 26 July 2024 at 5pm.
Introduction
Our Shared Plate is a pilot project supporting neighbourhoods to grow, cook and eat together.
The pilot is happening within nine neighbourhood communities in counties Kildare, Laois and Longford. It will be implemented by Neighbourhood Network and is funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in conjunction with Pobal, through the Community Climate Action Programme: Climate Education, Capacity Building and Learning by Doing (Strand 2).
Neighbourhood Network is an Irish community empowering charity organisation. Kildare County Council, Laois County Council and Longford County Council and Maynooth University Geography Department are project partners.
Our Shared Plate aims to build strong community networks. The project will examine how a sense of community and collectively can contribute to a more liveable neighbourhood. Working with 2 community gardens and food security initiatives the project will provide a permanent legacy in each community, such as a shared eating space, a community oven or the creation of a food sharing group. The legacy will be co-created and co-designed with the participating communities and explore how community connection through food can nourish both humans and the planet. One of the objectives of the Our Shared Plate pilot is to create an open-source toolkit, so the workshops and events are replicable for neighbourhoods nationwide.
A qualitative research plan has been developed by cultural geographer Professor Karen Till and historical geographer Professor Gerry Kearns, from Maynooth University. This research includes resource mapping by the communities, baseline food diaries, and examining food behaviours and practices within the participating communities. Outputs from the research will include resource maps, supporting documentation for the toolkit, an analysis of community workshops and select case studies.
Artist engagement with Our Shared Plate
We are looking to engage an Artist/Creative Practitioner to form an artistic response to the research and mapping being conducted in relation to Our Shared Plate.
This opportunity is open to artists who have experience in participatory, collaborative or socially engaged arts practice, with an interest in ecology, climate action, activism, neighbourhoods or food security. Artists should be resourceful, assertive, and have the ability to problem solve on their own initiative.
The Artist/Creative Practitioner will work directly with Neighbourhood Network staff and community leaders to respond to the research work being done by Maynooth University Geography Department.
The role will entail in-person visits to the participating communities across three counties Laois, Kildare and Longford.
The work may inform the content of the toolkit in the form of audio or visual work.
The story of the project can be told in a multitude of ways, and we look forward to receiving proposals from across disciplines.
Timeline: August 2024 to June 2025.
Key dates include:
August 2024
An introduction to the project by the Project Manager and Professor Karen Till from Maynooth University, a possible introduction to community leaders in the neighbourhoods (depending on the work proposed).
September 2024 – December 2024
A deep engagement with the research being done in conjunction with the Our Shared Plate project to help to activate its story. Outreach activities with Our Shared Plate participants.
January 2025 – June 2025
The Artist/Creative Practitioner will produce their own work in relation to their engagement with the research. The set outcome from this work will depend on the individual’s practice.
Artist fee
5 days of outreach @€350.00 per day = €1,750.00
Creation of new work = €3,000.00
Travel and subsistence = €750.00
Materials budget
Depending on the work proposed a materials budget will be defined (up to a maximum of €2,000). If the applicant/s wishes to consider additional materials, Neighbourhood Network is available to discuss and identify potential sources of funding.
Application process
To apply artists should submit one email with the following to oursharedplate@neighbourhoodnetwork.ie
- Artist’s CV – (max 3 pages)
- Expression of interest – Please include an artist’s statement and an outline of your approach to working with communities, demonstrating your understanding of a collaborative arts practice – (500 words max or we can accept 3-minute self tape or 5 slides)
- Supporting Documentation – You are required to include supporting material with your application. Typically, this includes samples of your current artistic work and engagement with communities of place or interest. e.g., Images, text, video, or sound recordings.
Selection Criteria
The assessment panel will consider the following selection criteria when making selection.
- Artistic merit in chosen art forms(s)
- Track Record of working with communities (or potential) e.g., Your application should include examples of previous projects with communities of place or interest. For those individuals with less experience, assessors will look for demonstrated potential.
- Ambition and innovation. Demonstrated understanding of the expanding area of socially engaged and participatory arts practice.
- Diversity of art form and practices.