Creative Places Athy invites expressions of interest from professional artists/creatives or arts organisations / collectives to take up a residency at Art House, a community arts hub in Athy town. This opportunity marks the next phase of the Connect and Gather Award. It follows the successful pilot led by artist Anthony Haughey, whose work established Art House as a vibrant ‘Third Space’ for creativity, collaboration, and community engagement.

This award offers €30,000 to support a socially engaged, artist-led residency that builds on the legacy of Art House and deepens its role as a space for inclusive cultural exchange, artistic ambition, and community connection.

Art House was conceived as a prototype for small-town arts infrastructure, offering a dedicated space for exhibitions, workshops, talks, and collaborative projects. Since its inception, it has hosted over a dozen events and exhibitions including Beauty of Brigid, Here Comes Everybody, and The Hawk Against the Dove engaging hundreds of participants from diverse communities across Athy.

We are now inviting proposals for the next phase of the Connect & Gather Residency, to continue the evolution of Art House as a community-led creative space. The residency should respond to the ethos of Third Space Theory, embracing the ‘everyday’ and fostering democratic participation in the arts.

A handover period with outgoing artist Anthony Haughey will be incorporated to ensure the successful applicant(s) are fully informed of the project’s context and trajectory.

Builds on existing as well as developing new, Art House activities and community relationships.

Responds to the notion of the Third Space as a site for inclusive cultural dialogue.

Uses participatory methodologies to co-create and deliver collaborative, socially engaged projects.

Develops durational work with a clear sense of legacy and sustainability.

Facilitates social gatherings, workshops, exhibitions, and public events to share the project’s progression.

Engages with diverse communities across Athy Municipal District, considering both existing relationships and groups and communities who might not have engaged with Art House thus far, including:

Summary of your practice as a socially engaged artist / creative / arts organisation / collective (150 words).

Expression of Interest (max 600 words) outlining:

CV (PDF) detailing relevant experience in collaborative/socially engaged arts practice.

Examples of recent work (PDF, max 10 images or links to video/audio).

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview in December. A budget of €300 will be allocated to each shortlisted applicant to support the development of a detailed proposal.

For queries please contact: arts@kildarecoco.ie

This opportunity is open to professional artists / creatives /arts organisations / collectives working in any artform who have a demonstrable track record in developing and leading socially engaged projects of similar scale and duration. Proposals must be artist/creative-led, and the lead applicant must be resident on the island of Ireland.

We particularly welcome applications from individuals or collectives with: