Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, funded by the Arts Council, and supported by the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council/Health Service Executive Arts and Health Partnership have announced a number of commissions for the performing arts sector. These awards are designed to respond to the need for better access to cultural activities at local level for people with disabilities. The council are looking to support the development of new work that considers accessibility from the beginning.

Each award will offer a project development commission fee, a dlr Arts Office appointed mentor if required (to assist with the development of work that is accessible) and rehearsal days in dlrLexIcon’s Studio (a maximum of 15 days). Please note flexibility will be required around days and times available as the studio is a multi-disciplinary space. As part of each award there must be in a maximum of two performances/showcases in dlr LexIcon Studio or other suitable venues in the county (even for work in progress).

The council are looking for professional individuals/companies that work in the following areas Dance, Theatre, Music, Opera, Musical Theatre, Spoken Word, Circus Arts or Performance Art. Applicants should note that the award is open to work that is in development and that may not be fully complete by the end of the award period. However outcomes must be publically showcased. This award may be pooled with other sources of funding where appropriate. The awards are also open to collaborative applications from practitioners/artists working with community groups.

The primary focus of the award is to support the development of new work which is equally accessible to an audience with specific impairments (as listed below) and a general public audience.
– People who are blind or visually impaired.
– People who are deaf or hard of hearing.
– People with intellectual disabilities.

What does the award entail?
– Each award consists of an all-inclusive fee, up to a maximum of €10,000 to support the creation/development of new work. (It is anticipated three awards  may be made).This fee is fully inclusive of VAT, project costs, insurance and all other associated expenses.

– Studio space in dlrLexIcon (subject to requirements and availability). This will be to a maximum of 15 days per award.
– Presentation/Performance space for showcasing work to an audience.
– Assistance with the development of ideas around accessibility. dlr Arts Office will engage a mentor if required (these may be people with disabilities or arts form specialists with expertise in this area).

Background
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council/Health Service Executive Arts and Health Partnership, Arts Disability Ireland and dlr Social Inclusion Office commissioned research to ascertain and evaluate the level and nature of engagement with arts and culture by people with disabilities in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County area.

The research pursued three specific types of impairment groups

– People who are blind or visually impaired.
– People who are deaf or hard of hearing.
– People with intellectual disabilities.

The overwhelming feedback from all three focus groups outlined the lack of accessible cultural activites at local level. The wish is to now build on this research and support the development of new work in the area of performing arts that considers accessibility as an integral component.

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council/Health Service Executive Arts and Health Partnership have been supporting work in the area of Arts and Disability since 2007. Under the Healthy Ireland Framework, this are of support encourages community participation and demonstrates the enormous benefits that better access to cultural activities can bring to health and wellbeing.

In addition, in 2014 White Cane Audio Theatre, a group of blind and visually impaired participants led by theatre director Ciarán Taylor of Carpet Theatre with radio programme maker and composer Rachel Ni Chuinn created “Sightless Cinema”. This was a year-long public art participatory art project funded by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council as part of the Per Cent for Art Programme under the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government. For further information http://www.dlrcoco.ie/arts/sightless_cinema.html

Timeline
The projects will commence in October 2015 for a maximum period of 6 months. Successful individuals/companies must engage in on-going communication and feedback with dlr Arts Office.

Selection process
Please apply by email to mdavey [at] dlrcoco.ie with the subject line:
‘Performing Arts Award Application’ and include the following information:

– One A4 page statement outlining why you have applied for this award and the relevance on work to date.
– Proposal outlining artistic ideas and approaches (no more than three typed A4 pages). Please clearly indicate which areas of accessibility you are interested in focusing on / responding to. If you have a particular mentor in mind please mention this in the proposal. 
– Budget including proposed fee and other expenditure related to the creation of new work. 
– Curriculum vitae (maximum 3 A4 pages). 
– 2 x References (must be relevant). 
– If submitting a collaborative application you must include a letter from the community group/organisation that you intend to work with. 
– Supplementary materials – these may include reviews etc.

Any documents submitted must be PC compatible, emails not to exceed 10MB.

Late submissions will not be accepted. 

Criteria for selection
– Quality of previous work
(40/100)
– Artistic merit
(40/100)
– Feasibility of proposal
(20/100)

Please note Applicants will be short-listed on the basis of their submissions and short-listed applicants may be called for interview. Selection panel will comprise of dlr Arts Office staff and peer selector(s).

Insurance
Please note that the successful applicant will be required to have Public Liability Insurance with cover of €6.5 million. Non-Vat registered service providers may be liable for Professional Services Withholding Tax. The successful applicant may be required to provide Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council with a tax clearance certificate prior to signing of contracts.

Freedom of Information
The provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 1997-2003 apply to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. Applicants should state if any of the information supplied by them is confidential or sensitive and should not be disclosed to a request for information under the aforementioned Act. Applicants should state why they consider the information to be confidential or commercially sensitive.

Please send applications as hard copy only to:
Máire Davey Assistant Arts Officer – Participation and Learning, The Arts Office, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin , to arrive by the deadline stated above.

Email submissions will not be accepted.

Queries
Please refer any queries to Máire Davey, Assistant Arts Officer – Participation and Learning
E:mdavey [at] dlrcoco.ie or Phone: (01) 236 2756.

Full details: http://www.dlrcoco.ie/arts/performing_arts_awards.htm