This month, the Arts Council issued a series of requests for proposals for provision of services as Arts Advisers across a broad range of artforms and arts practice areas. The call was issued via eTenders and potential applicants are advised to check this site for full information on the roles and how to tender.

Also in this edition, we include information on the Young Ensembles Scheme showcase and networking event which was held on 5 March 2011 for young people awarded funding through the scheme in 2010.  We are also delighted to announce the details and the deadline for the Young Ensembles Scheme in 2011.  Furthermore in the area of young people, children and education, the Arts Council publishes a report by Imelda Barnard on Encountering the Arts a one-day conference on arts and education held in IMMA last November. 

We have a wealth of news from Arts Audiences which aims to improve the state of knowledge about audiences for the arts and to increase capacity in arts organisations to connect and engage with audiences. The recipients of the Media Mentoring Scheme and the Build your Audience Scheme are announced, the findings from both schemes will be published to assist the whole arts sector in their marketing and cultural tourism efforts.  We include information on a day-long symposium on 18 May, organised by Arts Audiences to investigate the issues facing galleries and visual arts institutions particularly in audience identification and development.  In addition, Arts Audiences will host a number of briefings around the country on how they can help organisations make sponsorship pitches using the newly acquired Target Group Index, which is a large-scale annual set of materials about consumer behaviour in Ireland.

Also in March's newsletter, we have information on the deadlines for the Touring and Dissemination of Work Scheme.  The scheme is designed to support the touring and / or dissemination of work across a range of artforms and arts practice areas. We include the closing date for the Local Partnership Scheme, which will encourage new, local authority-led partnerships to develop innovative collaborative arts projects, including specific projects in the area of cultural diversity and the arts. The deadline for the Dance Residency Scheme, the Theatre Artist Residency Scheme, the Theatre Development Funding Scheme and the Theatre Resource Sharing Support Scheme is announced. A reminder on the upcoming deadline for the Deis Recording Round, an award which provides support for the realisation of traditional arts recording projects (including CD production) is also included.

The newsletter rounds off with our regular articles on news from the arts community and international opportunities from the Cultural Contact Point. 

Mary Cloake
Director

The Arts Council has issued a series of requests for proposals from experienced practitioners wishing to provide services as Arts Advisers in a broad range of artforms and arts practice areas.

The deadline for the Young Ensemble Scheme has been announced and we include information on the showcase and networking event which was held for recipients of the 2010 scheme.

The Arts Council publishes a report by Imelda Barnard on Encountering the Arts, a one-day conference on arts and education, held at IMMA last November.  

Arts Audiences announce the recipients of the Media Mentoring Scheme and the Build your Audience Scheme.

On 18 May 2011, Arts Audiences and Temple Bar Gallery and Studios (TBG+S) will hold a day-long symposium (11am-5pm) to investigate the issues facing galleries and visual arts institutions particularly in audience identification and development.

Arts Audiences will host a series of short meetings around the country on how to make sponsorship pitches.  The next meeting will take place in the Radisson Hotel, Galway, on Wednesday, 20 April from 2:30-4pm.

As part of the ongoing implementation of its Touring Policy, the Arts Council is further developing a scheme to support the touring and dissemination of work in a broad range of artforms.

The deadline for the Local Partnership Scheme is 5:30pm, Friday 13 May 2011.

The deadline for the Dance Residency Scheme, the Theatre Artist Residency Scheme, the Theatre Development Funding Scheme and the Theatre Resource Sharing Support Scheme is 5:30pm, 19 May 2011.

The deadline for applications for the Deis Recording Round is 5:30pm, Friday 8 April 2011.  Applicants must register for the online services website prior to making an application.

News from the arts community in March includes a call for a new Editor from the Irish Theatre Magazine; Fire Station Artists' Studios is offering two sculpture residencies and they are also open for applications for their next studio residencies.

News from the CCP in March includes: a notice on the successful applications to the Culture Programme 2010 under strands 1.1, 1.2.1 and 2, including four projects that have Irish partners; a call for proposals from EuropeAid Development and Cooperation for cultural cooperation projects at intra-ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific States) level;  information on a new publication entitled What's Special? on opera, dance and music education for and with people with special needs across Europe; finally, we include a reminder on the Culture Programme info event on European funding opportunities for heritage organisations.