Small Sparks - Call for Artists

Call for ARTISTS

Closing Date for expression of interest: Wednesday 28 May 2025

About Small Sparks

Spark was developed by Leitrim County Council’s Arts Office and Local Enterprise Office for companies that are interested in collaborating with artists and promoting creativity within their organisation, and artists that are interested in exploring how their thinking, knowledge and practice can have relevance and impact in different environments.

As part of Small Sparks three Leitrim businesses are provided the opportunity to each work with an artist to explore common interests and how creative activity can benefit both the company and the artist. There are no preconditions on what the artist (who may be from any arts discipline) might do, and it is not obligatory to have produced anything by the end of the project (although a materials budget is available if required). The residency lasts for approximately 10 days over three weeks, which can be taken in one block or spread over a longer period as agreed between the artist and company.

Quite naturally, what an artist does will be influenced by the adopted environment, thus providing a greater interest and involvement in what the artist produces from staff and clients/customers, pointing to different, creative and innovative paths and serving as a catalyst for new thinking.

If artist/company partnerships who take part in the Small Sparks wish to continue to work together, following Small Sparks, they can apply to undertake a more long-term 6-month artist-in-residence programme thereafter.

A call is current ongoing for participating companies in this year's programme. Details of participating companies will be published here after the closing date for expression of interest (30 March 2025)

How to apply

The process for application is set out here below. Applicants can be from any arts discipline. While some companies may appear suited to one or other artform, neither the arts office nor any of the companies have any preconceived ideas on what a project might look like or what approach any artist might propose, and as such are entirely open to all artists, disciplines and ideas.

1. Declaration of Interest
   Interested artists should first register their interest in the programme online at the link below. Artists who have declared an interest are invited to a site visit of the three companies and meet with the arts office, and management and staff at the three companies, leading to a better understanding of the programme and the company involved. While attendance at the site visit is not essential to make an application, it is strongly advised that applicants do so. To declare your interest in SPARK, please register online at this link before midnight on Sunday 30th June 2024.
2. Site Visit
   A bus tour of the companies involved will be arranged for the week beginning 02 June 2025. This will provide interested artists with the opportunity to see the companies and speak with management and staff.
3. Proposal
   Following the site visit, artists are invited to propose ideas and approaches for a three-week residency at any of the companies. This document is not a definitive proposal that you would be expected to carry out. Rather, by identifying potential approaches, meth-odologies or even outcomes, the document provides a vivid insight into your thinking, your understanding of the company, and your capacity to develop an innovative project appropriate to that context. Given that this proposal is only based on a short site visit, while it may serve as a useful starting point, the anticipation is that the residency would differ substantially, if not completely, from this proposal. This document shouldn’t be sizeable, generally no longer than 2 to 4 A4 pages, but can take any format and can refer to concepts, lines of inquiry, processes for engagement, methodologies for collaboration - and even potential outcomes. The proposal should be accompanied by a CV and images, recordings etc. of previous work. Proposals should be submitted online only here before midnight on Sunday 4th August.

Selection Process

A panel consisting of representatives of the Arts Office and Local Enterprise Office along with external experts will shortlist applications. A maximum of three proposals will be presented to each company for consideration. One or more of those shortlisted will then be invited to meet with the company.

• Applications will be assessed based on the following criteria -
  • The quality, innovation and artistic merit of the proposal.
  • Understanding of the company and the physical, social and cultural context of the project.
  • Previous work and track record (or potential) of the applicant.
  • Proven understanding of and ability to collaborate successfully.

Continuing a Project

The Spark programme also consists of a longer 6-month programme which follows on from Small Sparks. Should a Small Sparks project give rise to work that would be suitable for the longer 6-month Programme, the Arts Office will look to progress that project with the artist and the company. Should more than one Small Sparks partnership wish to pursue a longer residency, each partnership will be asked to prepare a further proposal, one of which will be selected for the 6-month programme.

Dates

Fees

*Up to €2,000.00 materials budget is available from Leitrim County Council on a matched basis with the company.

Artists can register their interest in the programme though this link.

Contact
For further information email arts@leitrimcoco.ie or phone 071 96 21694.