Roscommon County Arts Office is currently seeking interest from both artists of all art forms as well as companies who wish to participate in this the 7th year of the Art@work programme. Art@Work is a residential programme organised by Roscommon County Council Arts Office where artists, financed by Roscommon County Arts Office and the Arts Council of Ireland, spend three weeks in a company in County Roscommon making artwork motivated by the environment, staff, materials and working practices of the company. One of the aims of the programme is to bring a greater understanding of art and artists to a wider audience. This is achieved by offering the opportunity to staff and visitors of not just seeing art in unusual situations but seeing the process of making art and watching it develop. To the artist it offers the opportunity to explore different methods of working and to produce work in a context that allows for greater participation in the creation of the work. As such the programme simultaneously promotes artists and their work, it increases access and participation in the arts and develops new audiences for the arts. To the company it offers a unique advertising platform and a project which engenders stronger interrelations among staff. Now in its seventh year, Art@work is achieving a reputation nationally as being a highly innovative arts programme with multiple benefits for both artists and participating companies. On a number of occasions the programme has received commendation from the Business2arts Awards and has won the Special Award for innovative collaboration between businesses and the arts. Initially companies and artists are asked to express their interest in participating in the programme. From this a group site visit is organised where over one or two days, artists make a 20-minute visit to each of the companies wishing to participate. From this the artist prepares a proposal as to how they would approach the residency. Following an assessment of the proposals received, a time frame is agreed between the successful artists and companies and the three weeks are scheduled within a three-month period culminating in an exhibition. If you are an artist or a company who is interested in the programme please contact artsoffice@roscommoncoco.ie or Roscommon County Council Arts Office, Roscommon West Business Park, Circular Road, Roscommon on (090) 66 37285 before Wednesday 21st March.
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