Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown (DLR) County Council Public Libraries are looking for creative practitioners and facilitators who are experienced in working collaboratively, who are flexible in their approach and who are responsive to the needs of participants. DLR Libraries are delighted to announce this call for creative practitioners and facilitators to work with children, young people and adults throughout its public libraries.

Artforms which will be considered include Architecture, Circus, Dance, Film, Literature, Music, Opera, Theatre, Traditional Arts, Visual Arts and Crafts

Educational areas of interest include Digital Technology and E-learning, Health and Wellbeing, Local History and Genealogy, History, Literature and General Knowledge, Gardening and the Environment.

Traditionally, DLR Libraries have put programmes together for a variety of festivals and events including World Book Day, Bealtaine, Children’s Book Festival, Science Week, Summer and Christmas events. We are looking for authors, artists, lecturers, facilitators to propose projects for DLR Libraries, suitable for such festivals and events.

We are particularly receptive to ideas for innovative approaches to programming such events.

Proposals may be for one-off events, a series of themed events or for more long-term projects.

A representative number of projects will be selected both from 'Artforms' and 'Educational areas of interest', highlighting the demand for both kinds of events in DLR Libraries.

Creative practitioners and facilitators will be selected for a panel and for events programmed from Autumn 2014 through to early 2016.

Background

The mission of the library service is to enhance the quality of life in the County by enabling the enjoyment of reading and the pursuit of lifelong learning. The County has eight branch libraries serving the educational, recreational and cultural needs of all who live, work or study in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown area. The 8 branches are; Blackrock, Cabinteely, Dalkey, Deansgrange, Dundrum, Dún Laoghaoire, Shankill and Stillorgan.

The new Central Library & Cultural Centre in Dun Laoghaire is opening in Autumn 2014. The Central Library will contain community rooms, workshop spaces, a studio space accommodating an audience of 100, a gallery and a local history area, as well as a teen, adult and children’s library.

Current library membership is 59,000 and continues to grow. 1.4 million items were issued last year. See www.dlrcoco.ie/library.

The selected creative practitioners and facilitators will work within a library context, including the new Central Library & Cultural Centre.

Areas of interest;

1) Artforms

We are seeking creative practitioners/facilitators within the following art forms; Architecture, Circus, Dance, Film, Literature, Music, Opera, Theatre, Traditional Arts, Visual Arts and Crafts. Practitioners will work within a library context and will engage collaboratively with the user groups in a meaningful and imaginative way by developing innovative programmes that achieve a high level of artistic experience for participants. The aims of this context are to enhance and promote the cultural expression and artistic talents of the community.

The user groups include the following:

Children (0 -12 yrs), Young Adults (12 – 21 yrs), and Adults

Applicants must be able to demonstrate in their application, their prior experience of working with their chosen user group, whether children, young adults or adults.

2) Educational

We are seeking creative practitioners/facilitators to offer courses, ideas for events in the following areas: Digital Technology and E-learning, Health and Wellbeing, Local History and Genealogy, History, Literature and General Knowledge, Gardening and the Environment. Practitioners will work within a library context and will engage collaboratively with the user groups in a meaningful and imaginative way by developing innovative programmes that achieve a high level of educational excellence for participants. The aims of this context are to enhance and promote the educational and recreational needs and talents of the community.

The user groups include the following:

Children (0 -12 yrs), Young Adults (12 – 21 yrs), and Adults

Applicants must be able to demonstrate in their application, their prior experience of working with their chosen user group, whether children, young adults or adults.

Guidelines:

• Interested applicants may apply for both areas of interest (artistic and educational) and all user groups (if relevant experience evidenced). If applying for more than one area of interest and different user groups, clear indication of experience must be demonstrated in each area of interest and with each age group.

• All successful applicants will be subject to Garda Vetting.

• Selection will be based on the written submission and any additional supplementary material supplied only.

• Applications received after Friday 9th May at 12.00 noon will not be accepted under any circumstances.

• Emailed applications will be deemed ineligible.

• Applications that do not include 3 hard copies as requested will be considered ineligible.

Application Procedure

Please apply in writing and include 3 hard copies of each of the following (email applications will not be accepted)

• Curriculum Vitae demonstrating relevant experience

• Practitioner statement clearly outlining your interest in the proposed area of interest (artistic/educational) and relevance of the opportunity to your work to date

• Two referees (must be related to collaborative practice and if possible the chosen area of interest)

• Supplementary information that will support the application, for example short description of relevant previous projects and photographs/audio or visual documentation*

* Please note that supplementary information will not be returned to applicant (applicants should ensure that they do not send any unique or irreplaceable material).

Selection criteria and marking

• Experience of engaging collaboratively with chosen area of interest/user groups through the arts/education. (Marks will be awarded out of 70)

• Relevant expertise and qualifications in the creative practitioners’ chosen arts or educational form. (Marks will be awarded out of 30)

All queries to: Maeve McElligott at mmcelligott@dlrcoco.ie or call (01) 214 7970

Applications to be posted to: Maeve McElligott, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Public Libraries HQ, 1st Floor, Harbour Square 1, Crofton Road, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.

Deadline for applications is Friday 9th May 2014 at 12.00 noon

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council reserves the right to form a panel from applicants to this call out for future opportunities from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and to extend the lifetime of the selected creative practitioners panel. The Council also reserves the right to pursue a different selection process if applications are deemed unsuitable. All opportunities are subject to funding received