Open Call for Workshop Artists/Facilitators

January 2024

Please note the deadline for this open call has now passed. Keep any eye on our webiste and social media for future opportunities.

Open call

Mermaid Arts Centre currently seeks artist/facilitators to devise and deliver workshops as part of its 2024/25 programme. Workshops are an important part of Mermaid’s year-round programme, offering audiences an opportunity to explore new ways of communicating, making, and understanding through the arts. They provide a unique space through which audiences of all ages can experiment, try their hand at something new, or engage with and explore a particular artform on a deeper level.

As part of our developing creative learning programme, we invite experienced arts practitioners and workshop facilitators working across all disciplines including music, dance, poetry, writing, literature, craft, visual arts, theatre, circus, traditional arts, and storytelling to submit a workshop proposal for our 2024/25 programme.

Submissions from practitioners working at the intersection of arts, climate, and environmental issues are welcome, as are proposals for and by minority groups and marginalised communities. As Mermaid is Wicklow’s County Arts Centre, artists based in or from Co Wicklow are particularly encouraged to submit, as are practitioners working in/with/for underrepresented communities in the county.

Multi-purpose workshop space

A wide variety of groups make regular use of our multi-purpose room (MPR) which is suitable for everything from small meetings to painting workshops. This space holds a maximum capacity of about 22 people (including workshop facilitators) for workshops which are seated. The capacity of the space is reduced to approximately 12-15 people for larger workshops which require movement, dance, or additional space. Capacity will be discussed with facilitators and a final decision made by Mermaid Arts Centre.

For selected proposals aimed at school groups, Mermaid will collaborate with you to identify and connect your work with educators and coordinators in suitable local schools.

Fees

A standard fee of €300 will be paid to artists for selected one-off workshops that are two hours or less in duration. Mermaid will discuss fees for longer duration, regular contact, and multiple iteration workshop formats with the workshop provider. Where it is applicable to the workshop, Mermaid will cover a standard fee of €50 for materials. Travel costs (standard fuel rates/public transport) will also be covered for practitioners travelling more than one hour to the building.

Policies

Mermaid Arts Centre subscribes to the Arts Council’s Pay the Artist Policy and ensures that all engagements are covered by a contract.

From early 2024, all individuals who enter into contract with Mermaid Arts Centre will be required to sign our Safe to Create policy.

Mermaid Arts Centre is committed to a child-centred approach in our work with children and young people. It is central to the philosophy of Mermaid Arts Centre that children are unconditionally respected and kept safe from harm while using our services. All Mermaid staff and regular artists & facilitators with contact to children, young people and vulnerable persons are Garda vetted. Our Child and Vulnerable Adult Safeguarding Statement can be found here.

About Mermaid Arts Centre

Mermaid Arts Centre is Wicklow’s creative powerhouse. Each year, we programme more than 300 events, workshops, and creative learning initiatives across a range of artforms and for audiences of all ages. Our goal is to champion artists and to connect with communities. We aim to provide a supportive and welcoming environment where artists can develop new work and where audiences can imagine, dream, and explore.