Grass: Open Call

GRASS – APPLICATION DEADLINE May 22nd
This OPEN CALL for Artists in Residence from June to November 2023 at LIVE ART IRELAND
AT MILFORD HOUSE. Residencies 3-6 weeks from available from May 30th to August 5th and from September 1st to November 30th. The residency is called ‘Grass’ because it asks artists to look down and look around. Last summer we watched as the two local loughs dried up completely for the first time since 1976. The grass was yellow a lot earlier than normal. Local farmers had to start supplementing feed as there was not enough grass in the fields. Now we are surrounded by the smell of slurry as our neighbours put this cow excrement soup on the land to help the grass and grain crops grow better. We ask artists to think about our environment in what is now clearly a climate emergency and produce work
that responds to this. We invite Performance artists, video makers dancers and sound artists to think about this often-overlooked plant. And respond to the social cultural myths of Ireland as a fair green land. What needs to be done to keep the grass growing and what are the costs? We are particularly interested in artists who engage with possibilities (or impossibilities) of emancipatory, relational, and reparative art processes.
Please note: this is a research residency, so there is no need for a finished performance or film outcome. Although if a project does develop to a point of audience engagement, we are happy to present it on our website and to a live audience, we encourage proposals that actively engage with
the local community. You will be asked to provide the website with photo documentation and a short description of your progress during your residency stay.
Those who are selected for the residency will be invited to submit a live art film document for our
live art video festival – Alive & Kicking in November
Residency Includes: Each bed/Studio has an ensuite shower room. The kitchen is shared. Parts of the barns, the fields and woodlands and the fine rooms of the house are all available as places to develop live art projects and art films. We have a fast wifi network.

We currently have funds for a small bursary artist payment of 250 Euro for three artists. We will select more than three artists and the BURSARIES WILL BE AWARDED TO THOSE THAT SCORE HIGHEST UNDER EACH CRITERIA. If selected, regardles of whether you receive a bursary, we can write you a letter of acceptance which can be used to apply for further funding.
Residents are encouraged to cook a meal together in the evenings at least once a week. We do not cook meat here both for the environment and because getting rid of meat waste is an issue in the countryside. You will be allocated a food cupboard and space in the fridge.
Transport: There are buses to Nenagh and trains to Cloughjordan – we can pick you up from there. We have bicycles available to ride to Lough Derg. If you have a car you are welcome to drive it here. We encourage slow travel; this means working out the most carbon efficient way of travelling here. This could mean by car if it is electric or hybrid, but generally by bus or train.  If you are an artist who normally lives in a location where it would be impractical to travel overland such as North and South America, Australasia, east Asia etc we encourage you to  only apply if you are already in Ireland, the UK, North Africa or mainland Europe

Accessibility: There are no ground floor bedrooms at present although there is a shower and toilet on the ground floor. The Studio bedrooms are on the second and third floor so there are stairs to them. We welcome artists who identify under the social model of disability and welcome feedback on accommodations. If you need to submit an application in an alternative format, please get in touch well before the deadline to arrange.
The curatorial panel is Deej Fabyc, & MJ Newell

Image The Land Lines Trilogy, Work 2: Field Mark, 2022 Rachel MacManus photographer Paul Corey

GRASS – APPLICATION DEADLINE May 22nd