Business to Arts seek expressions of interest from businesses to take part in the Artist-in-Residence (AR) Programme

Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys TD and Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan TD at the launch of the AR Programme with Andrew Hetherington and Charley Carroll

Business to Arts in partnership with the Creative Ireland Programme’s National Creativity Fund announced that they are seeking expressions of interest from businesses that would like to develop new (or significantly enhance their existing) CSR activity through the AR Programme.

The AR Programme will cover a broad spectrum of activity and opportunities for artists and companies. Host companies will offer artists a working environment or a structure for engagement with their organisation’s CSR Programme and a selected local community organisation.

Up to €7,500 will be provided for the creation (or enhancement) of three AR Programmes in a Corporate Social Responsibility context. Selected programmes must involve a minimum of eighteen-months of community engagement, staff engagement or work-place creativity activities by the host companies and artists. Priority will be given to AR Programmes where a significant portion of the associated activity occurs in regional areas. 

At the announcement, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan TD., commented:

“The National Creativity Fund enables the Creative Ireland Programme to activate, enable and support a range of innovative initiatives which have creativity and wellbeing at their centre.  As a Programme which has collaboration and community engagement at its core, I am particularly pleased that this initiative of Business to Arts, which encourages and enables active partnerships between business, artists and local communities, is one of the priority initiatives of the Creative Ireland Programme in 2019.

Through initiatives such as this Business to Arts artist residency, we want to encourage ambition, risk and innovation by harnessing the incredible talent and passion of our artists, our creative communities and local business innovators.  I look forward to following the progress of this initiative over the coming weeks and months and to sharing the outcomes of the projects when they come to fruition in 2019.’

Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys TD also commented:

“Through Ireland’s national plan on CSR, ‘Towards Responsible Business’, the Government’s vision is that Ireland be recognised as a Centre of Excellence for responsible and sustainable business practice.  I want businesses to realise that CSR creates a meaningful win/win for business, by supporting and protecting the community and environment in which they operate; while at the same time making businesses more competitive. I warmly welcome this collaborative CSR initiative by Business to Arts with the Government’s National Creativity Fund, and in particular its regional focus.”

Andrew Hetherington stated:

‘Having piloted a number of artist in residence programmes in the Dublin Docklands area under the Docklands Arts Fund, we are excited to expand to other regions across Ireland. Through the AR Programme we look forward to working with businesses, artists and local community groups, fostering an environment of collaboration, learning and wellbeing through creative practice.’

FAQ’s and application details can be accessed here.