Artist in Community Scheme Information Session 4th March 2026

Twice yearly, the Arts Council offers Artist in the Community Scheme grants to enable artists and communities of place/or interest to work together on projects. The scheme is managed by Create, the national development agency for collaborative arts.

The AIC scheme is open to artists from any of the following artform disciplines: architecture, circus, comedy, dance, film, literature, multi disciplinary arts, music, opera, street arts and spectacle, theatre, traditional arts and visual arts. The projects can take place in a diverse range of social and community contexts eg arts and health; arts in prisons; arts and older people; arts and cultural diversity. The aim of the scheme is to encourage meaningful collaboration between communities of place and/or interest and artists.

Create is pleased to announce an online information session on applying to the Artist in the Community (AIC) Scheme, with previous recipient Laura Sarah Dowdall and Tatiana Dos Santos, AIC Scheme Programme and Development Support.

The information session is about answering any questions you might have about making an application to the Scheme. It’s also about sharing experience of developing and delivering a collaborative project through the Scheme. If you are an artist or a community organisation interested in the Artist in the Community Scheme but don’t know where to start, come talk to us. If you are an artist interested in developing a collaborative project with a community organisation or in a community situation this event is for you. If you are an artist who has applied before and would like to access further detail on the application process, please join us.

Laura Sarah Dowdall is a dance artist creating experiential, immersive performances permeable to audience interaction. Integrating spoken-word, site-specific work, and durational performance. Her practice and choreography focus on researching the body in its expanded, transformative, political and imaginative states, breaking boundaries of hierarchy and expectation, and offering experiences of heightened personal and social awareness. As a socially-engaged artist, Laura’s collaborative practice spans inclusion—notably Running Blind with deafblind/blind communities since 2015—and climate work through sea, park and forest projects exploring biodiversity and conservation. An international facilitator and speaker bridging arts, science and access, her work has been featured on RTÉ Nationwide (2024). Laura tutored Ireland’s first Inclusive Dance Training (UCC/Firkin Crane, 2023) and was Inaugural Artist at Dún Laoghaire Baths Artist Studios (2023).

Advisory clinics

In addition to the information session, Create is also offering an online Advisory Clinic to potential applicants. We know from internal research that 63% of proposals deemed ineligible were submitted by artists and communities who did not seek advice from Create before applying. We strongly recommend that applicants attend information sessions and one to one advisory clinics in advance of applying.

The Advisory Clinic offers artists/applicants 30 minute one to one advice and support on their application with one of the Create team. For example, you may want to tease out your idea, need some additional guidance on the application process, want to discuss / need additional guidance on what you can/should apply for to meet your collaborative practice needs. Artists who wish to avail of the Advisory Clinic must first attend an information session. You can book your place at an Advisory Clinic here.