Public Call : Evaluation, Monitoring and Reporting Requirements for the AIC Scheme

Create is seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified candidates to review and develop the evaluation, monitoring, and reporting requirements for the Artist in the Community (AIC) Scheme Awards.

The Arts Council’s Artist in the Community (AIC) Scheme, managed by Create, offers awards to enable artists and communities of place and/or interest to work together to create exceptional art. The aim of the AIC scheme is to encourage meaningful collaboration between communities of place and/or interest and artists. Create defines community in the broadest sense of the word, however for the AIC Scheme the artist or artists must be collaborating with a community of non-arts professionals. Create defines collaborative arts as artists and communities working closely together, often over extended periods of time, to make art.

Purpose of the Review

The review has two primary purposes:

• To develop new guidelines and templates that better support artists and communities in the evaluation, monitoring, and reporting of their AIC Scheme projects (specifically Research and Development Awards and Project Realisation Awards).
• To inform and support artists and communities in the use of evaluation and monitoring methodologies that can strengthen and clarify their reflective practice and reporting processes.

Expression of Interest

Interested candidates are invited to submit a short statement of interest and an outline of their proposed approach to reviewing and developing updated guidelines for the AIC Scheme Awards’ evaluation, monitoring, and reporting requirements. Please send your Expression of Interest to info[at]create-ireland.ie before the closing date of Monday 16^th February at 5pm.

Submissions may include:

• A brief description of the organisational methods proposed to structure research, information gathering, and the development of new guidelines and templates.
• A clear and achievable timeframe – to be completed 4 May 2026
• A description of the conceptual approach to the AIC Awardee Clinics, for example, framing evaluation as a tool for learning that captures positive collaborative experiences while also recognising challenges as generative opportunities for future development.
• Examples of previous relevant work (or references)

Key Tasks

The successful candidate will be required to:

• Review and develop new text for the evaluation, monitoring, and reporting sections only of the AIC guidelines, application forms, and acceptance forms.
• Develop reporting templates for both Research and Development Awards and Project Realisation Awards.
• Facilitate two 30-minute sessions on each date at the AIC Awardee Clinics (9 June and 2 December 2026), focusing on evaluation and monitoring methods and reporting, targeted separately at Research and Development awardees and Project Realisation awardees.

Budget

The total budget is based on the following allocation:

• Review of existing material – 1 day
• Research and development of new text for AIC guidelines, application, and acceptance forms – 2 days
• Research and development of new reporting templates – 2 days
• Awardee Clinics: preparation and delivery – 2 day

Total: 7 days at €260 per day
Total fee: €1,820

Deadline for EOI: Monday 16^th February at 5pm

Applicants’ details may be kept on file by Create for consideration in contracting other related work in the future