Neighbourhood Network Climate Action Project Artist Call Out
Introduction:
Neighbourhood Network, in partnership with Kildare County Council Arts Service, is thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for professional artists across all art forms. We invite applications to engage with our innovative food security and neighbourhood climate action project, Our Shared Plate. This unique artist opportunity is funded by Kildare County Council Arts Service.
About Our Shared Plate:
Our Shared Plate is a ground-breaking pilot project designed to support neighbourhoods in growing, cooking, and eating together. The project will be implemented within nine communities across counties Kildare, Laois, and Longford by Neighbourhood Network and funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in conjunction with Pobal, through the Community Climate Action Programme: Climate Education, Capacity Building and Learning by Doing (Strand 2).
Neighbourhood Network is an Irish charity organisation dedicated to empowering communities. Our project partners include Kildare County Council, Laois County Council, Longford County Council, and the Geography Department of Maynooth University.
Project Goals:
Our Shared Plate aims to build strong community networks by examining how a sense of community and collective action can contribute to more liveable neighbourhoods. By collaborating with community gardens and food security initiatives, the project will leave a lasting legacy in each participating community. This could take the form of a shared eating space, a community oven, or a food-sharing group. These legacies will be co-created and designed with the communities, fostering connections that nourish both people and the planet. One of our key objectives is to develop an open-source toolkit, enabling other neighbourhoods nationwide to replicate our workshops and events.
Research Component:
The project includes a qualitative research plan led by cultural geographer Professor Karen Till and historical geographer Professor Gerry Kearns from Maynooth University. This research involves community resource mapping, baseline food diaries, and an examination of food behaviours and practices. Outputs will include resource maps, supporting documentation for the toolkit, analyses of community workshops, and select case studies.
Artist Engagement:
We are seeking an Artist/Creative Practitioner to create an artistic response to the research and mapping conducted for Our Shared Plate. This opportunity is open to artists with experience in participatory, collaborative, or socially engaged arts practices, and an interest in ecology, climate action, activism, neighbourhoods, or food security. Ideal candidates should be resourceful, assertive, and able to solve problems independently.
Role and Responsibilities:
– Collaborate with Neighbourhood Network staff and community leaders.
– Respond creatively to the research by Maynooth University’s Geography Department.
– Visit participating communities in Kildare, Laois, and Longford.
– Potentially contribute audio or visual work to the project’s toolkit.
– The final artistic work should reflect the project’s story, informed by deep engagement with the research and community interactions.
Timeline:
– August 2024: Introduction to the project by the Project Manager and Professor Karen Till, including potential introductions to community leaders.
– September 2024: December 2024: Deep engagement with the research and active participation in Our Shared Plate activities.
– January 2025: June 2025: Creation and production of the artistic response, culminating in a final piece that aligns with the artist’s practice.
Apply Now:
We look forward to receiving innovative proposals from artists across disciplines who are eager to contribute to this meaningful project.
Submit your application by July 26th at 5pm to be considered for this transformative opportunity.
For more information and to apply, click here
Together, let’s create a lasting impact through art and community engagement.