BREAKING THE PATTERNS

3 Month Artistic Residency Programme in Lisbon

(APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED)

January - April

2025

Brought to you by (Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, and Wexford Local Authority Arts Services), and led by Carlow County Council Arts Service under the Invitation to Collaborate Arts Council of Ireland scheme. In partnership with Capacity Ireland and as part of a Creative Europe Project, the programme 'Breaking the Patterns' is now accepting applications from emerging visual artists in the above counties.

Our definition of a Visual Artist

*An artist whose art forms creates works that are primarily visual in nature, such as drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, text based work, printmaking, performance, photography, video and filmmaking.

Breaking the Patterns is a two-year programme which commenced in early 2024 which will foster and cultivate creativity through international European art residencies, exhibitions, dedicated artistic mentorship and professional development.

The programme is designed to target, support and engage with emerging Irish Visual Artists, who may not have the means to develop their artistic practice due to barriers such as financial, social or not having the supports to do so. We are looking for emerging artists who are at the early stages of their careers, or who have just completed or are completing further education, or who are passionate about becoming an artist and would like to be supported to do so. This programme will support and be open to visual artists based in Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford.

Successful applicants to the programme will take part in a three-month artists residency in Lisbon, Portugal from mid January 2025 until mid April 2025. Artwork which is completed during the programme will be exhibited in an exhibition towards the end of the residency. There are a total of six available spaces on this programme and applicants will be assessed within a competitive context. You do not need to know Portuguese to apply to the programme.

Please note you must currently reside in one of the following counties : Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford or Wexford to be eligible for the programme.

As part of the artist residency you will be placed in an artistic work placement for the duration of the residency, this is to hone and develop your creative work experience, more information on this is provided below.

Successful artists for the programme, will be granted with the following resources, please expand each of the sections to read more on what is available -

  • Departure and return flights to Lisbon and Ireland will be organised and provided by the programme.

    The arrival flight will be leaving on and around mid January.

    Artists will be met at the airport in Lisbon and transported to their accommodation.

  • Artists will stay in a shared apartment with 2 - 3 other artists who are also part of the Breaking the Patterns programme. Artists will have their own private bedroom. Sharing living spaces such as kitchen, living room and bathroom. The apartments are located all centrally in district in Lisbon. The apartments are equipped with all the typical living necessities needed for the 3 month residency.

  • During the 3 month residency, the artists will work part time with a well established organisation in Lisbon, the work placements are all based in the creative industries, the placements will further hone the participants artistic professional development and skills in this area.

    Please review the artistic work placements below and choose a placement most relevant to your art practice when submitting your application.

  • All artists will have access to an artistic mentor who will be able to offer guidance and support, weekly mentoring sessions will take place, throughout the 3 months residency.

    The type of topics that will be covered are -

    • Event management,

    • Project coordination

    • Budget and financial management

    • Marketing

    • Writing/communication skills

  • Each artist will be given access to a dedicated studio space in Lisbon during their 3 month residency.

  • All artists will be enrolled in an online training tuition course in Entrepreneurship for European Creative Industries, this is a Level 5 award.

    The 4 units in the course are:

    • Creating personal brand and online presence

    • Communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution strategies

    • Introduction to business planning for Creative Industries practitioners

    • Creative Industries entrepreneurship in Europe

    During the 3 month residency, you will be allocated time each week to attend lectures, take part in guided group work and/or complete assignments. Your can find out more about what the course will entail here.

  • Each artist will be granted a bursary of €1500 for the 3 months during the residency.

    They will also receive an additional €560 euro a month to cover living expenses.

  • During the final month of the residency, the artists will showcase their artwork in a self organised exhibition in Lisbon.

    The theme of the exhibition will revolve around how their new surroundings have inspired them, These artworks can vary across connective themes of physical geography, history, social issues community, mythology etc, and will be ultimately decided by the artists themselves.

    Local Portuguese artists will also be involved in the exhibition to bolster a sense of community and local integration.

    At the end of the year there will be an exhibition in Ireland, where the artists from the Breaking the Patterns programme throughout the year will exhibit their artwork.

  • Each artist will have a 1.5 hour Portuguese lesson a week to help develop their language skills. These classes will be tailored to the artists language level. Artists will also be granted access to Duolingo classrooms to further bolster their language learning.

  • Artists will be provided with a basic travel insurance that will cover their 92 day residency in Lisbon.

  • Capacity Ireland and their local Portuguese partners will be there to support, offer guidance and pastoral care throughout the 3 month residency.

  • During the three-month artistic residency, the 6 Irish artists will collaborate with6 local artists in Lisbon to create and exchange artistic ideas. This collaboration will culminate in a dynamic exhibition at the end of the residency, where both Irish and Lisbon artists will present their artworks to the public. This residency aims to foster cultural exchange and artistic growth.

How to Apply:

  • Current students (part time & full time) are not eligible, thus we regret we are unable to accept applications from individuals looking for ‘year in industry’ placements.

  • Please note you must currently reside in one of the following counties : Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford or Wexford to be eligible for the programme.

  • Applications close on Wednesday 13th November 2024 (Applications now closed)

  • Placements are for fixed periods of 13 weeks and it is a requirement that you spend the full period in you destination country (Lisbon). The start date (flight out to Lisbon) will be in mid January . End date (return flight to Ireland) 91 days from the date of departure. There will be 3 days of online preparatory training that will take place the week leading up to your fly out date.

  • The 3 days of online preparatory training is compulsory to attend, each session is 2 - 3 hours long and will go into detail on what the programme will provide, give you advice on how to make the most out of your artistic residency, guidance on what to bring, living in Lisbon etc. During this time, the course in Entrepreneurship for European Creative Industries will also begin as well.

  • If you have any questions or queries regarding the programme, please get in touch with rachaelspray@capacityireland.ie

    Before applying please complete the following steps :

  • Review the vocational course information.

  • View the Artistic Work Placement information by clicking the links above.

  • Decide which positions are of interest to you and complete the application form. Please only pick a role if you have relevant skills and experience in this area.

  • To complete your application you must send your CV and portfolio to : rachaelspray@capacityireland.ie PLEASE NOTE: APPLICATIONS WITHOUT A CV AND PORTFOLIO WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

  • Name your CV and portfolio in the format “Name-Surname-CV/Portfolio”, for example: 'Jane-Doe-CV/Portfolio'. PDF is preferred.

  • Avoid the use of generic file names such as ‘My CV/ My Portfolio’ etc. It makes it much easier for us to deal with and respond to your application when they are titled correctly!

  • Take care to fill out the application form with details relevant to the Breaking the Patterns programme.

  • It is advised you submit your application as soon as possible to get a better chance of being successful

  • If your application passes to the next stage, you will be called for an interview with Capacity Ireland, a 2nd interview will also take place with the relevant creative partners in Lisbon. Each interview will be approx 30 minutes long. You will be notified if successful to the programme within 2 weeks from your last interview. 

  • PLEASE KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR SPAM INBOX FOR INTERVIEW INVITES

    Funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union

Artistic Work Placements Available

For the 3 month art residency you will be placed in an artistic work placement, this is to hone and develop your professional development as an artist, more information on this is provided below.

In the application form for the programme you will need to choose your preference of placement, please read through each description

(Click the links for further details)

Nowhere Lisbon - Cultural Space & Gallery Assistant

Safra LX - Art & Cultural Hub Assistant

Jahn und Jahn - Gallery Assistant

Hangar - Art & Events Assistant