New suite of Arts, Health & Wellbeing awards and supports in 2022 announced

Kildare County Council Arts Service has announced a new suite of grants and workshops to support creative projects and artists working in the area of Arts, Health & Wellbeing in the county in 2022. The programme is being rolled out under the Arts Service’s Arts, Health and Wellbeing programme and includes the Arts, Health & Wellbeing Award 2022, First Fortnight Award 2022, and the Connect & Discover workshop programme.

 

The ARTS, HEALTH & WELLBEING AWARD 2022 aims to support the development, creation and/or presentation of new work that promotes public engagement with the arts, in particular with hard-to-reach communities or those limited access to the arts, whether for physical, social or geographical reasons. Applications to the Arts, Health & Wellbeing Award are welcome from individual artists and/or art collectives with ideas for new or ‘in development’ arts projects. A grant award of up to €4,000 is available.

 

The FIRST FORTNIGHT AWARD, in collaboration with First Fortnight, aims to support the development and presentation of new work that provokes conversation around mental health and promotes mental health awareness and wellbeing. First Fortnight is a charity that challenges mental health prejudice through arts and cultural action. The recipient(s) of the 2022 award will be included as part of Kildare’s First Fortnight Festival programme of events in January 2023. Applications are welcome from individual artists and/or collectives with ideas for new or ‘in development’ projects that provoke conversation around mental health and promote mental health awareness and wellbeing. A grant award of up to €4,000 is available.

 

CONNECT & DISCOVER is a new interactive 4-part workshop programme for creatively minded people, artists, and those working in the arts industry. Participants will connect with your community, share experiences and talk through challenges, and learn new ways of working with a renewed confidence as a creative. Connect & Discover will be delivered online and in person across 4 sessions (30^th March, 27^th April, 25^th May, 15^th June), facilitated by professional Executive Coach and theatre director Matthew Ralli. Connect & Discover is provided free of charge with funding from Kildare County Council’s Arts Service and the Arts Council.

Kildare County Council welcomes applications from applicants who represent the diversity of Irish society. Applications are encouraged from all areas of the community regardless of gender, sexual orientation, civil or family status, religion, age, disability, race or membership of the Traveller Community, or socio-economic background. The County Council welcomes applications from artists whose first language is not English.

Kildare Arts Service is committed to supporting health and wellbeing through engagement and participation in the arts and developing opportunities for professional development. Kildare’s Arts, Health and Wellbeing programme supports public engagement, provides opportunities for artists working in this area, and aims to promote artistic ambition and inclusive participation. The programme is one of Kildare Arts Service’s shared strategic priorities with the Arts Council, along with Dance, Supporting Artists and Young People, Children & Education.

 

Applications

Kildare County Council recently published details of 16 other grants and award opportunities to support the development and presentation of creative and artistic projects in the county this year.   Full details and application forms for each grant call out can be accessed through the online portal at kildarecoco.submit.com. Expressions of interest to participate in the Connect & Discover workshop programme should be submitted via the online Form.

The deadline for receipt of applications and expressions of interest for all opportunities is Monday 21^st March 2022, 5pm.

 

Grant Information Workshops

Information sessions will be held online on Saturday 12th February, 11am and Tuesday 15th February, 11am to provide guidance on all Creative and Arts Grants and opportunities available through Kildare County Council in 2022.

This session might be of particular interest to creative practitioners, artists, arts collectives, community groups, schools and youth groups in County Kildare intending to apply to one or more of awards available this year. All are welcome to attend this FREE session, but booking is recommended.

Book your place to attend the Information Session on Saturday 12th February here.

Book your place to attend the Information Session on Tuesday 15th February here.

The presentation will be recorded and will be available to view afterwards via Kildare Arts Service’s YouTube and social media channels.

 

__________________________________

Further information

• Application forms for all awards, with eligibility criteria, are available on https://kildarecoco.submit.com/
• Queries to T: (0)45 980872; E: arts@kildarecoco.ie
• The closing date for these awards is Monday 21^st March 2022 at 5pm.

 image credit: Cathy Coughlan

Back to other News Items