Policies

Climate Action Plan

CLIMATE ACTION PLAN 2024 – 2029

INTRODUCTION

Environmental responsibility and care are embedded into every aspect of our strategy and we are putting in place independent measurement processes and initiate collaborations to achieve this aim.

LAI are a member of Performing Arts Forum and the Green Arts Initiatve.

The action plan presented below seeks to achieve the following:

  • Reduce the environmental impact of our activities and independently measure these changes
  • Minimise waste through resource sharing, partnerships and collaborations
  • Mainstream environmental care in all our activities, communications and through relevant artistic projects
  • Be valued and independently recognised as an innovator in the evolution of sustainable working practices

ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN

Pay the Artist Policy

Introduction

Live Art Ireland is committed to the principle of fair remuneration for professional artists. We seek to create a culture of fairness and to ensure that artists are remunerated appropriately. 

This policy is guided by Arts Council Irelands’ Pay the Artist Policy – A policy on the fair and equitable remuneration and contracting of artists.

“We seek to create an environment in which artists can make work of excellence and ambition and be remunerated appropriately” (Arts Council Ireland).

Scope

Within this policy we use the term ‘artists’ in its broadest sense. While the focus of this policy is on artists, the principles it contains apply equally to other independent workers in the arts sector.

Live Art Ireland regularly engages with artists directly, both within its membership and outside it. Such engagements include programming artists to present, perform or take part in a range of activities such as workshops, events, performances and programmes. Live Art Ireland occasionally also employs independent freelance contractors such as facilitators, curators, photographers etc. For these engagements we commit to upholding the values and principles expressed in this policy.

Definitions

Remuneration – this includes pay, salary, wages, fees, allowances, benefits and other non-cash incentives. Remuneration is considered fair when it equates to what is asked of an artist in terms of their time, input and expertise.

Commitments

Live Art Ireland occupies a unique position as both an artist residency and a commissioning body, operating a mixed model of supports to provide flexibility. All resident artists are offered free accommodation, Wi-Fi, and essential utilities. Certain residency programmes may include a bursary, while some workshops may require a fee to cover food and tuition, unless supported by grant funding. We are committed to paying artists for all public presentations of their work.

Live Art Ireland commits that it will:

  • Be transparent and upfront in communications with artists to ensure clarity on the ask and the offer.
  • Ensure that remuneration reflects the full scope of what an artist is expected and required to deliver.
  • Ensure that artists have a voice in negotiating terms and conditions.
  • Ensure that payments reflect and/or differentiate between fees and expenses, including per diems or other relevant payments
  • Be clear and upfront about how and when payments will be made
  • Ensure that artists’ fees are ring-fenced within project budgets so as to ensure they are protected against budget overruns in other areas.
  • Ensure that artists copyright is respected, both in terms of moral and economic rights.
  • Aim for continued improvement in rates on offer to artists

Communicating the Policy

Live Art Ireland is committed to promoting and fostering the fair and equitable remuneration and contracting of artists. Therefore, Live Art Ireland will provide this policy to artists through the appropriate means e.g. direct correspondence and company website.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION POLICY

Live Art Ireland seeks to create a community that connects local artists with broader networks, focusing on those who produce work outside mainstream arts institutions. The programme aims to foster outstanding multi-disciplinary research, experimentation, and art production. Opportunities will be provided for local, national, and international artists in live art, performance art, contemporary dance, participatory practice, and artist film and video. The goal is to contribute to the socialand economic development of rural Ireland and create new opportunities foraudiences to engage with cutting-edge contemporary art.

Vision: By 2029, Live Art Ireland aims to:

● Enhance its global reputation.

● Establish a vibrant hub for live art.

● Embed inclusivity and diversify income streams.

● Develop a highly regarded centre of excellence in the arts in North Tipperary

● Operate sustainably, promoting rewilding and engagement with the land and

landscape.

● Maintain an inclusive policy that addresses intersections of class, able-bodied

normativity, and supports BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, including

individuals, groups, and parents with young children.

Volunteers Policy

Live Art Ireland CLG

Ealaín Bheo Centre for Art Research and Development

Volunteer Policy

Approved by: Board of Directors, Live Art Ireland CLG

Date approved: 18th May 2026

Date of next review: 18th May 2028

Policy owner: Programme Manager / CEO

1. Introduction

Live Art Ireland CLG (trading as Ealaín Bheo Centre for Art Research and Development) is a not-for-profit arts centre and artist residency programme based at Lisheenboy House, a large historic country house near Lough Derg in North Tipperary. The buildings on the estate have been here for centuries, and parts of the site are designated as a national monument. The surrounding land is in part being rewilded, and the property is registered as an ARK for the protection of native wildlife, including red squirrels, pine martens, three species of bat, barn owls, long-eared owls, buzzards, sparrowhawks and peregrine falcons. The walled kitchen garden is being reclaimed for the organic growing of fruit and vegetables.

As a registered charity dedicated to live art residency practice, artist development, and the public presentation of live art in Ireland and internationally, we host over 80 artists annually through residencies, workshops, the biennial Convergence festival, and a broad programme of European and international cooperation. The CEO operates in a volunteer capacity, supported by a wider team of volunteer members and friends who together sustain the day-to-day running of the centre.

Volunteers are essential to our work. They bring a range of skills, perspectives and energy to the organisation and help us to deliver high-quality artistic, environmental and community programmes that would not otherwise be possible. This policy sets out how Live Art Ireland recruits, supports, manages and recognises volunteers, and the mutual expectations that underpin our relationships with them.

2. Purpose and scope

The purpose of this policy is to:

  • Provide a clear and consistent framework for volunteer involvement at Live Art Ireland;
  • Ensure that volunteering is a positive, safe and meaningful experience for everyone involved;
  • Set out the rights and responsibilities of volunteers and of the organisation;
  • Support compliance with Irish law and with the standards of the Charities Regulator, the Volunteer Ireland Charter, and the principles of best practice for charity volunteer management.

This policy applies to all volunteers engaged by Live Art Ireland in any capacity, including board members, festival and event volunteers, programme volunteers, residency hosts, interns on unpaid placements, Workawayers and other longer-stay volunteer guests, and short-term or one-off volunteers. It does not apply to paid staff (where these are in place), to artists in residence (who are programme participants, not volunteers), or to contractors. Where a board member is also volunteering in an operational capacity, the operational role is covered by this policy.

3. Definition of a volunteer

A volunteer is a person who, of their own free will and without expectation of payment, gives their time, skills and energy in support of the work of Live Art Ireland. Volunteers are not employees and there is no contract of employment between Live Art Ireland and any volunteer. The relationship is based on mutual agreement, trust and shared values rather than on a legally binding employment relationship.

4. Our commitment to volunteers

Live Art Ireland is committed to involving volunteers in a way that is consistent with our values as an arts-led, access-led and environmentally engaged organisation. We will:

  • Treat all volunteers with respect, dignity and fairness, and value their contribution;
  • Provide a written role description and clear expectations for every volunteer role;
  • Provide induction, training and ongoing support appropriate to the role;
  • Provide a safe working environment and adequate insurance cover;
  • Reimburse reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, and provide lunch and agreed travel costs, in accordance with section 11 of this policy;
  • Make our volunteer opportunities accessible to people of all backgrounds, abilities and experiences, including neurodivergent and disabled volunteers;
  • Offer volunteers the opportunity to learn about the day-to-day running of a not-for-profit arts centre;
  • Where appropriate, offer mentoring in artistic practice and in curating and arts management — drawing on the CEO’s four decades of international experience as an artist and curator — to volunteers who are themselves artists, emerging curators, or arts workers and who have a genuine interest in developing in these areas;
  • Welcome volunteers into the social life of the organisation, including, where appropriate, the opportunity to meet and spend time with artists in residence;
  • Recognise and acknowledge the contribution that volunteers make.

5. Volunteer roles at Live Art Ireland

Volunteers may be involved in a wide range of activities, including but not limited to:

  • Festival and event support, including the biennial Convergence festival (front of house, artist liaison, documentation, stewarding, hospitality, set-up and de-rig);
  • Residency support, including welcoming and orienting visiting artists, transport assistance, and practical hosting tasks;
  • House and estate maintenance, including DIY and general upkeep of the historic buildings (carried out with due regard to the site’s national monument status and to any conservation guidance in force);
  • Kitchen garden and grounds work, including the organic growing of fruit and vegetables and the upkeep of the wider gardens and land;
  • Habitat and wildlife support, in keeping with the site’s ARK status — for example by following good practice around nesting and roosting sites, sensitive habitats, and rewilded areas;
  • Administration, communications and digital support, including social media (Instagram in particular), mailing list, website assistance, and archiving;
  • Workshops and outreach support, including community-facing programmes;
  • Specialist or skills-based volunteering (for example legal, financial, fundraising, conservation, photographic or technical advice);
  • Board and sub-committee roles (governed in addition by the company’s Constitution and the Charities Regulator’s Governance Code).

A written role description will be prepared for each role, setting out the purpose, main tasks, time commitment, location, any specific requirements (for example Garda vetting), and who the volunteer will report to. We particularly welcome volunteers with DIY, gardening or environmental skills, and an interest in contemporary art is a bonus rather than a requirement.

6. Recruitment, selection and induction

6.1 Recruitment

Volunteer opportunities will be advertised openly wherever practicable, including through I-VOL (the national volunteering database operated by Volunteer Ireland), Workaway and similar platforms (for international volunteers and longer-stay placements), our own communications channels, and through partner organisations. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and actively encourage applications from groups who are under-represented in the arts.

6.2 Selection

All prospective volunteers will be asked to complete a short application or registration form and to have an informal conversation with the Programme Manager or a designated member of staff. The purpose of this conversation is to ensure that the role is a good fit, to identify any access or support needs, and to give the prospective volunteer a clear picture of what is involved. For some roles (for example those involving regular contact with children or vulnerable adults, handling money, or trusted access to premises) two references and Garda vetting will also be required. For longer-stay volunteers and Workawayers, additional information about arrival, accommodation, daily routine and any specific arrangements will be agreed in writing in advance.

6.3 Induction

All volunteers will receive an induction appropriate to their role before starting. The induction will typically include an introduction to Live Art Ireland’s mission and values; a tour of the relevant premises and grounds, including any heritage and habitat features that require particular care; an overview of relevant policies (health and safety, safeguarding, data protection, dignity at work and equality, this volunteer policy); an introduction to their supervisor, the wider team and (where appropriate) any artists currently in residence; and a chance to ask questions.

7. Garda vetting and safeguarding

Live Art Ireland is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. Under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016, Garda vetting is required for any volunteer role involving “relevant work” with children or vulnerable adults. Where vetting is required, a volunteer cannot begin work in that role until vetting disclosure has been received and reviewed by the designated liaison person.

All volunteers, vetted or not, must read and abide by Live Art Ireland’s Safeguarding Adults Policy and, where applicable, the Child Safeguarding Statement. Any safeguarding concern, however minor it may appear, must be reported to the Designated Liaison Person without delay.

8. Training and support

Each volunteer will have a named point of contact within Live Art Ireland — usually the Programme Manager, the relevant project lead, or, for access-related matters, the Access Support Consultant. The point of contact will provide day-to-day supervision, regular check-ins, and a yearly conversation about the volunteer’s experience and any further training needs.

Where appropriate and budget permits, volunteers may be offered access to relevant training (for example safeguarding, first aid, manual handling, fire safety, GDPR awareness, or skills-specific training). For artists, emerging curators and arts workers, mentoring in artistic, curatorial and arts-management practice may also be offered by the CEO as part of the volunteer relationship.

9. Rights of volunteers

As a volunteer with Live Art Ireland, you have the right to:

  • A clear written role description and a named point of contact;
  • Induction, training, and ongoing support appropriate to your role;
  • A safe, healthy and inclusive working environment, free from bullying, harassment and discrimination;
  • Reasonable accommodations and access support where needed;
  • Lunch on volunteering days, and reimbursement of agreed reasonable out-of-pocket expenses including petrol or bus fares to and from the place of volunteering;
  • Be insured while carrying out agreed volunteer duties;
  • Have your personal data handled in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018;
  • Be heard if you raise a concern or complaint, and have it dealt with fairly and confidentially;
  • A written reference after a reasonable period of regular volunteering;
  • Decline a task and to end your involvement at any time without giving a reason.

10. Responsibilities of volunteers

In return, volunteers are asked to:

  • Carry out agreed tasks reliably, to the best of their ability, and within the scope of their role description;
  • Give as much notice as possible when they are unable to attend, or when they wish to step back from a role;
  • Treat everyone they encounter through Live Art Ireland — staff, artists, other volunteers, audiences and members of the public — with courtesy and respect;
  • Respect the heritage status of the buildings and the ARK status of the estate, by following any specific guidance about working near historic structures, nesting and roosting sites, sensitive habitats, or rewilded areas;
  • Follow all Live Art Ireland policies and procedures, including health and safety, safeguarding, dignity at work and equality, data protection, social media, and this volunteer policy;
  • Respect the confidentiality of information about artists, participants, staff and the organisation;
  • Not speak on behalf of Live Art Ireland to the media or in public without prior authorisation;
  • Raise concerns through the channels described in this policy.

11. Expenses, lunch and travel

Volunteers will not be paid for their time. However, Live Art Ireland will provide lunch for volunteers on the days they are volunteering at Lisheenboy House, and will cover or reimburse reasonable travel costs agreed in advance — including petrol costs for volunteers using their own vehicle, or bus fares for those using local bus services to Borrisokane, Portumna or Carrigahorrig. Other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses agreed in advance will also be reimbursed. Expense claims must be made within a reasonable period using the volunteer expenses form and supported by receipts where possible. The Programme Manager has discretion to approve claims and budgets for expenses will be agreed for each project in advance.

12. Insurance

Live Art Ireland holds public liability insurance that covers volunteers carrying out agreed tasks on behalf of the organisation, and we maintain other insurances appropriate to our activities. Volunteers are required to follow all reasonable instructions and risk-control measures; insurance will not extend to activities carried out outside the agreed role, or where instructions or safety measures have been disregarded. Volunteers who use their own vehicle for volunteer-related travel must hold valid motor insurance that covers such use and are responsible for ensuring that this is in place.

13. Health, safety and welfare

Live Art Ireland is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for everyone involved with the organisation, in accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. Volunteers will be briefed on relevant risk assessments, emergency procedures and first aid arrangements at the start of any role, and on any site-specific hazards relating to the historic buildings, gardens, machinery, and natural environment of the estate. Volunteers are responsible for taking reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others, for reporting any hazards or incidents, and for using any equipment or PPE provided. Accidents and near-misses must be reported to the named point of contact and recorded in the incident log.

14. Equality, diversity and access

Live Art Ireland values diversity and is committed to equality of opportunity for all volunteers. We will not discriminate on any of the nine grounds protected by the Employment Equality Acts 1998–2015 (gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race, or membership of the Traveller community) or on any other basis.

We particularly welcome volunteers who are neurodivergent, disabled, or otherwise under-represented in the cultural sector. The Access Support Consultant is available to discuss reasonable accommodations, sensory or communication needs, working patterns, or other adjustments that would enable someone to volunteer with us. Bullying, harassment and discrimination of any kind are not tolerated and will be addressed under the Dignity at Work policy.

15. Safeguarding

Live Art Ireland operates in line with Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, the Children First Act 2015, the National Standards for Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons at Risk of Abuse (HSE), and our own Safeguarding Adults Policy. All volunteers must familiarise themselves with these where relevant to their role, and must report any safeguarding concern to the Designated Liaison Person at once.

16. Data protection and confidentiality

Live Art Ireland is the data controller for personal information about volunteers and processes it in line with GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, and our own Privacy Policy and Retention Schedule. We collect and hold only the information needed to manage the volunteer relationship — for example contact details, emergency contact, references, vetting outcomes, expenses claims, training records, and any access requirements you share with us. This information is held securely, shared internally only on a need-to-know basis, and retained only as long as necessary.

Volunteers, in turn, must respect the confidentiality of any personal information they encounter through their volunteer role — about artists, participants, staff, donors, board members, or other volunteers — and must not disclose, share or use such information for any purpose other than the volunteer role itself.

17. Communications and use of social media

Volunteers are not authorised to speak on behalf of Live Art Ireland to the media or in public statements without prior agreement with the Programme Manager. Volunteers contributing to Live Art Ireland’s own social media channels (for example Instagram) will do so under the guidance of the Programme Manager and in line with our communications style and consent practices. In personal use of social media, volunteers are asked to be respectful of the organisation, its artists and its participants, and to be mindful that publicly identifying themselves as a Live Art Ireland volunteer may carry reputational implications. Photography and documentation of artists, participants, audiences and the estate is subject to consent and to our Documentation and Consent procedures.

18. Concerns, complaints and problem-solving

If a volunteer has a concern about their role, working relationships, or anything else relating to their involvement with Live Art Ireland, they are encouraged to raise it informally in the first instance with their named point of contact or with the Programme Manager. Most concerns can be resolved through open conversation.

Where this is not possible or not appropriate, the volunteer may raise the matter in writing with the Programme Manager. If the concern relates to the Programme Manager, or remains unresolved, it may be escalated in writing to the Chair of the Board, who will acknowledge it within ten working days and respond substantively within thirty working days. Concerns about safeguarding or about possible wrongdoing should be raised through the Safeguarding and Protected Disclosures procedures, not through this process.

Live Art Ireland may also raise concerns with a volunteer where, for example, agreed tasks are not being carried out, behaviour is not consistent with our values, or there is a breach of policy. The Programme Manager will speak with the volunteer in the first instance to understand and resolve the issue. In serious cases, or where matters cannot be resolved, the organisation reserves the right to end the volunteer relationship in line with section 19.

19. Ending the volunteer relationship

Volunteers are free to step back from a role at any time and are simply asked to give as much notice as they reasonably can. Live Art Ireland may also bring a volunteer relationship to an end — for example where a role is no longer needed, where a project has finished, where there has been a serious or repeated breach of policy, or where continuing the relationship would not be in the interests of the volunteer, the organisation, or the people we work with. We will explain the reasons and, where appropriate, offer an exit conversation. Because volunteers are not employees, the formal disciplinary and dismissal procedures that apply to employees do not apply, but we will always act fairly, transparently and in accordance with our values.

20. Recognition

Live Art Ireland recognises that volunteers give freely of their time and skills, and we are committed to acknowledging that contribution. We will, as appropriate: thank volunteers personally and publicly; acknowledge volunteers in programme materials, reports and on our website (with consent); provide written references after a reasonable period of regular volunteering; and mark significant occasions such as the end of festivals or projects.

21. Policy review

This policy will be reviewed by the Board at least every two years, or earlier in response to changes in law, guidance or organisational practice. Volunteers and staff are welcome to suggest amendments at any time through the Programme Manager.

22. Related policies and documents

  • Safeguarding Adults Policy
  • Child Safeguarding Statement (where applicable)
  • Health and Safety Statement and Risk Assessments
  • Dignity at Work / Anti-Bullying and Harassment Policy
  • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy
  • Access Policy
  • Data Protection / Privacy Policy and Retention Schedule
  • Protected Disclosures Policy
  • Volunteer Welcome Pack and Role Descriptions
  • Volunteer Registration Form
  • Volunteer Expenses Form