ARTISTS IN SCHOOLS SCHEME 2025

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Kerry County Council intends to provide funding for a number of projects in Primary and Post-Primary Schools in County Kerry under its Artists in Schools Scheme in 2025. 

The purpose of the scheme is to enable students and teaching staff to work collaboratively with a professional artist on a creative project over an extended period. 

The scheme is designed to provide an opportunity for a school to carry out a project that nurtures both the child’s creative imagination and the skills of the teachers involved.  For this reason, it is important that a school making an application under this scheme considers especially the opportunities of working in partnership with an artist in a ‘process led’ approach rather than setting out with a pre-determined end product as the primary goal of the project.

Projects can be in any art form, for example, dance, music, composition, drama etc.  It is also possible for a project to include different disciplines, (for instance writing and film) provided the overall aim justifies such an approach.

A school awarded a bursary in previous years, must allow a lapse of 1 year before being eligible to apply again  (e.g. successful in 2023, apply again for 2025).

Project Development Notes (please read carefully)

General Guidance

It is essential that schools work closely with the artist in developing a project proposal.  This proposal will outline the scope of the project, the duration and the artform.  It will also reflect an understanding by both parties of the key objectives of the project.  It will show an understanding of the possibilities that the project affords for extension through the curriculum.  The project proposal will identify the target group(s) within the school and will also set out a clear support structure for the artist during his/her time. 

A successful arts project is built on a good working relationship between the school, the designated teacher(s) and the artist.  As this is a collaborative journey for everyone involved, it is essential that the teachers who will work with the artist are involved at the project development stage and are enabled to bring their professional skills and experience to the planning of the project. The artist’s abilities are creative and intuitive, and he or she may not necessarily have the depth of understanding and experience of working in a class environment that the teacher has. It is important therefore that both the teacher and the artist have a good understanding of the possible roles they will play in the project.  The teacher should also consider this project as an opportunity for developing new creative skills.

It should also be an opportunity for the teacher to observe the way the artist approaches the project, the methods and materials used and to observe the reaction of the class. It is strongly recommended that schools allow sufficient time for reflection between the artist and teachers each week so that they can discuss the way the project is developing.  It is also important that the artist can communicate openly and frankly with the teacher and gain from his/her expertise at all stages in the project.

The artist is a skilled professional.  It is important that schools recognise that the artist is an artist and not a teacher and will require to be fully supported by the teaching professionals in the school. The artist’s role is primarily creative.  He / she will be a facilitator for the child’s learning and development during the project.  The artist must not be expected to work alone in the class setting and take responsibility for discipline and supervision. The Artist in Schools Scheme is grounded on a process led approach to learning.

The artist must not be expected to become involved in merely facilitating a final end product, however attractive that may be, such as a mural painting project, or a drama production.  These may happen, but only as a final outcome of a creative exploration between students and the artist.

The nature of the project will not only depend upon the artist and artform, but also on the teacher and children. Applications will therefore be assessed on the evidence of a well-planned and thoughtful approach taken by both the artist and the school’s staff. The Garda Vetting of all artists and facilitators remains the responsibility of the school.

Documenting & Evaluating the Project

Applicants should consider the process of documenting and evaluating their project.  Documentation is a valuable exercise in itself as it offers an opportunity to review a project as it takes shape.  This can be done in many ways; for example, the students can keep their own diaries to record each week’s work, reviews also act as a place to present their own views on the work they are doing and their response to new experiences.

Kerry County Council require images to document the work in progress and for use in reports and social media. These must be sent to the Arts Office. It is the responsibility of the school to ensure consent for photography has been ensured. Teachers should also keep a record of progress. In addition to a written record, it is also important to make a visual record of the project on an ongoing basis, if it is feasible to do so. This can be done using video or photography and could also be a project that might be given to a class not working directly with the artist.  Photographs must be sent to the Arts Office for our website to document work supported.

It is vital that a process for ongoing evaluation is developed with the artist.  This might be simply the setting apart of some time for review or reflection or might be a more formal exchange of views between the parties.  This can be agreed between the artist and the school and should be included as part of the project proposal.

Criteria for Assessment 

Proposals will be assessed on the following criteria:

• Artist CV
• Evidence of a planned approach involving both artist and school.
• The artistic intention of the project.
• The stated goals of the project.
• The stated value and benefit of the project to the child, the artist and the school.
• A process led approach.
• The project structure in which the artist will operate.
• An understanding of the potential for further exploration in other parts of the curriculum.
• The viability of the project.
• Teacher remains present throughout.

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Timescale

Projects must be initiated during 2025.  However, as projects may be initiated in the 2025/2026 school year, any such projects which carry over into Spring 2026 will be eligible.

Artforms

This scheme covers all artforms

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Financial

Grant assistance will be between €500 and €1,200 per project (Applicants should note that Kerry County Council reserves its right to make a final determination on the level of grant assistance that may be provided and may in certain instances determine a grant above or below the threshold level indicated above).  This grant is essentially designed to contribute towards the costs of the artist’s fee and expenses.  Schools applying are expected to make provision for materials and other costs that may arise as a result of the project outside of this bursary.

Canvassing of members or staff of Kerry County Council or of outside assessor by or on behalf of the applicant will disqualify the applicant.

Application Procedure

The applicant school must submit the following:

Completed contact information sheet.

A detailed project proposal signed by both the school principal and the artist.

Artist’s C.V. and samples of the artist’s work

Documentation of any community or education-based work previously undertaken.

Grant decisions will be made on the basis of information supplied by the applicant and in accordance with the criteria outlined above. Additional information cannot be accepted after the closing date. We regret that late applications cannot be considered.

Kerry County Council reserves the right not to make an award at their discretion. 
 

Freedom of Information: Kerry County Council proposes that the following information relating to this grant application competition will be made available on request: Name of the successful applicant/s. The reason/s an applicant did not qualify for grant consideration. Kerry County Council undertakes to use its best endeavours to hold confidential any information provided by applicants’ subject to its obligations under law, including the Freedom of Information Act 1998 and 2003.  Applicants are requested to consider if any of the information supplied should not be disclosed because of its sensitivity. If this is the case, candidates should, when providing the information, identify same and specify the reasons for its sensitivity. If such information is not identified as sensitive and Kerry County Council upon consideration does not deem it sensitive, then such information is liable to be released in response to a Freedom of Information request without further consultation with the applicants. Kerry County Council will consult with any candidates about sensitive information before making a decision on any Freedom of Information Act request received.

General Data Protection Regulation: The purpose for processing your data is to process your application to the Arts Office of Kerry County Council for Arts funding. This information you provide will be assessed by a panel made up of staff from a Local Authority and external invited specialists. Your information will be retained for five years if you are granted a Bursary and for one year if your application is unsuccessful. If you do not furnish the personal data requested, KCC will not be able to process your application.

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Email your application to arts@kerrycoco.ie

Please submit completed application not later than 1.00pm 15^th January 2025.