Smashing Times November 2024 Newsletter

Hi there,

We hope you’re keeping well. Welcome to the November 2024 edition of the Smashing Times Newsletter.

A huge thanks to everyone who came to, and took part in, the Dublin Arts and Human Rights Festival 2024. The festival, which ran from 11–20 October, featured 45 exciting events in Dublin, Wicklow, Kildare, Kerry, Cork, Leitrim, Roscommon, and Galway. Please see the Spotsolas: Smashing Times in the Spotlight section below for a festival recap. Also included below is Tintreach, with two articles by Mary Moynihan, author of novels, poetry, films, and plays, and creator of art and photography.

The theme of the Quotes and 10 We Admire sections this month is Peace and Reconciliation, owing to the devastating wars ongoing in Palestine, Lebanon, Israel, and Sudan, to name a few.

But before all that, we have some news regarding the newsletter. In January 2025, we plan on splitting the newsletter in two. On the one hand will be the monthly newsletter, including Spotsolas: Smashing Times in the Spotlight, Grants and Opportunities, 10 We Admire, and more. On the other hand will be Tintreach, a quarterly arts and literary journal, published online, featuring works across all artforms. The latter will have its first edition in January; we will be posting its submissions call on the Smashing Times website and social media very soon.

We would, however, love to get some input from you, our readers, before this change. What are your thoughts on the current format of the newsletter (most of which will remain the same, bar moving the Tintreach section from the monthly newsletter to the standalone journal)? What do you like and not like about it? What are your thoughts on the planned change? What could make it better? Any and all feedback and ideas, however critical, are very much welcome. Please email these to communications@smashingtimes.ie.

If you are reading this newsletter via the shareable link, and would like to subscribe to receive it, and the upcoming Tintreach editions, direct to your inbox, please click here.

Sleachta | Quotes

‘I could certainly never mirror nature. I would more like to paint what it leaves with me.’
– Joan Mitchell (1925–1992), interview with John I.H. Baur

‘The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us the less taste we shall have for the destruction of our race.’
– Rachel Carson (1907–1964), Lost Woods: The Discovered Writing of Rachel Carson

‘Everything has a secret soul, which is silent more often than it speaks.’
– Wassily Kandinsky (1866–1944), Retrospects

Tintreach

A bright, dramatic sunset with many clouds, and a meadow in the foreground, over which appears text reading 'Hold On'

Image: Hold On by Mary Moynihan

US Democracy, Elections, and the Arts
by Mary Moynihan

Democracy and elections are in the news at the moment. When I started writing this article, Kamala Harris and Donal Trump were battling it out for control of the White House in the US elections, while in Ireland, the announcement of a general election date was imminent. By the time I finished this article, a date had been set for the next Irish general election: Friday, 29 November, 2024. And the US presidential election had been won by Donald Trump, who has a record of bigotry, misogyny, and racism, and has repeatedly threatened free speech and democracy. People need to work together going forward to ensure that democracy, women’s rights, free speech, and the rights of all communities are respected during his second term.

A healthy democracy is a fundamental part of a free society, of a country where there is openness, accountability, and transparency. In a healthy democracy, there is free debate, space for diverse ideas and opinions to flourish, and the type of growth that promotes change for the better – for all of society, not just a select few. The needs of ordinary citizens are met, taking precedence over the demands of those with money, power, and privilege.

Democracy, unfortunately, continues to be under threat. In many countries around the world, and increasingly in European countries, we are seeing the rise of autocratic leaders elected on populist agendas. What they then do is clamp down on key elements of democracy, especially free speech and the closing down of civic space that is independent and in the public interest. A civic space is where the voices of ordinary citizens are heard and heeded, and there is a balance between the state and civil society. Democracy and a free civic space go hand in hand, with this relationship between the two paving the way for a more equitable and just world.

In a democracy with a healthy civic space, citizens are informed, inspired, and engaged in society, their voices heard. A healthy society supports groups such as trade unions and a range of civil society networks, NGO’s, and organisations that are active and advocate for the rights of ordinary citizens.

But what we are seeing around the world are attacks on those who advocate for the rights of citizens: people who stand up for democracy, better governance, and who protect the environment. Almost a third of the world’s population now live in countries with closed civic spaces, while more and more countries are moving towards closed civic spaces. According to Civicus, a monitor that tracks civic spaces, less than 20 EU countries have open civic spaces. The good news is that Ireland is rated as having an open civic space. Long may that continue.

Click here to continue reading.

A quote reading 'The Art of Democracy: Liberty, Equality, Justice and Freedom of Speech, in front of white clouds and a shadowy lake

Image: Democracy by Mary Moynihan

Elections and the Arts in Ireland: National Campaign for the Arts

by Mary Moynihan

In terms of the forthcoming election in Ireland, it would be interesting to have an arts survey report card completed on potential candidates, revealing their position on the arts, how they have supported the arts in the past, and how they propose to support them going forward. This would be a form or survey that candidates are asked to fill out. If a candidate completes the form, it is displayed online – for example, on the website of the National Campaign for the Arts.

The National Campaign for the Arts is a fantastic organisation working tirelessly to generate support and funding for the arts. As part of their campaign, artists and arts organisations are calling on all candidates and politicians in the next general election to make the arts an election priority, and to support the arts and the important work that artists and arts organisations do. The National Campaign for the Arts are calling on all candidates who will be standing in the next general election to address key areas that are affecting artists and arts organisations nationwide. These areas include the provision of funding and art spaces, as well as action on social issues such as housing and climate change. The National Campaign for the Arts has the following twelve ‘asks’ to make, in line with the campaign’s pre-budget submission for 2025. These are

Retain, extend, and expand the Basic Income for the Arts scheme
Invest meaningfully in the arts by committing a minimum of €160 million to The Arts Council in 2025
Bring Irish arts to the world by committing €10 million to Culture Ireland in 2025
Nurture communities and retain current funding to Creative Ireland until 2027
Develop housing initiatives
Make space for the arts
Remove barriers for artists with disabilities and arts workers
Address the climate emergency
Address the lack of diversity in the arts
Implement insurance reform
Support adequate research in the arts
Implement taxation reform

As part of this work, the National Campaign for the Arts have organised an Election 2024 Arts Hustings, which takes place at 1pm on Monday, 18 November, 2024 at 1pm in the Gate Theatre, Cavendish Row, Dublin. (For more information on this event, please see the ‘Election 2024 Arts Hustings’ item in the News From the Network section later in the newsletter.)

Click here to continue reading.

Mary Moynihan, she/her, is an award-winning author of novels, poetry, films, and plays, and a creator of art and photography. She is Artistic Director of Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and Artistic Curator for the annual Dublin Arts and Human Rights Festival.

Spotsolas: Smashing Times in the Spotlight

Every month, we not only bring you the latest updates from Smashing Times, but also highlight a specific element of our work. This month, we’re focusing on the Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Show.

Red-and-black graphic for the Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Show

Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Radio Show

The Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Radio Show, with Dublin South FM, takes place every Wednesday, from 6–7pm, and is presented by Mary Moynihan, Smashing Times Artistic Director, and Freda Manweiler, Producer and Company Manager. The programme, which began on 11 September, promises an engaging hour of in-depth discussions focused on equality, diversity, and the work of artists who advocate for human rights. The Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Show stands out for its coverage of diverse artforms, including theatre, film, dance, music, literature, photography, mural arts, storytelling, spoken word, sculptures and monuments, architecture, digital arts, electronic arts, and more. The show also delves into the broader cultural landscape, celebrating activities from the art of conversation to sport, cooking, and nature walks.

Key features of the programme include:

Featured Artist Interview: A regular segment highlighting artists featured in the monthly Smashing Times newsletter. This segment will showcase artists and artworks that inspire and promote human rights.
Event Reviews: Information on, and reviews of, arts events attended by the hosts, offering listeners a chance to appreciate and discover significant cultural happenings.
News From the Network: Updates from Smashing Times’ extensive network spanning Ireland and Europe, providing listeners with the latest news on what’s happening in the arts and human rights scene.
Entertainment: A mix of songs and poetry, ensuring a rich and entertaining listening experience.

Peter Rice, Station Manager of Dublin South FM, had the following to say about the Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Human Rights Show: ‘This programme promises to be a pillar of creativity and advocacy on our broadcast schedule, showcasing the impact of artists committed to human rights.’

Join Mary and Freda every week for an enriching exploration of the arts and their powerful role in promoting equality, rights, and diversity. Tune in to Dublin South FM 93.9 every Wednesday from 6–7pm, or listen online at www.dublinsouthfm.ie. Click here to listen to three past episodes.

Check out our latest show, which aired yesterday, 6 November, and will air again at 6–7pm next Wednesday, 13 November, 2024. The episode includes information on the work of the National Campaign for the Arts, as well as Featured Artist interviews with actor, writer, and director Geraldine McAlinden; and visual artist, creative advisor, and curator Noelle McAlinden. Geraldine and Noelle are sisters originally from County Armagh in Northern Ireland.

Presenter Mary Moynihan raises concerns over the future of the arts in the US, and takes a look at the brilliant work of the National Campaign for the Arts here in Ireland, who are calling on all candidates in the next general election to make the arts a priority. As part of this, the National Campaign for the Arts have organised an Election 2024 Arts Hustings. (For more information on this event, please see the ‘Election 2024 Arts Hustings’ item in the News From the Network section later in the newsletter.)

Dublin Arts and Human Rights Festival Thank You Message

2024 Dublin Arts and Human Rights Festival Recap

Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and Front Line Defenders, alongside a range of partners, presented the sixth annual, international Dublin Arts and Human Rights Festival from 11–20 October, 2024. The festival was a massive success, featuring an array of events across Ireland. The hybrid programme, delivered over 10 days, hosted a blend of events happening in person and online. It featured Irish and international artists and guest speakers, and reached audiences locally, nationally, and internationally.

As partners in the overall festival, Smashing Times and Front Line Defenders were delighted to continue their unique collaboration on the creation of two events: The Art of Changemakers Visual Art Exhibition at the dlr Mill Theatre, Dundrum, and Memorial Monologues: The Path of Memory by Mary Moynihan, comprising live performances at the Iveagh Gardens, Dublin. Smashing Times were thrilled to once again partner with Rathfarnham Castle, the Pearse Museum and St Enda’s Park, and the Office of Public Works, to present two unique events: the multidisciplinary exhibition Landscapes of the Soul at Rathfarnham Castle, and the world premiere of The Art of Trees at the Pearse Museum and St Enda’s Park.

Smashing Times and partners were also delighted to collaborate with The Ireland Institute, on Pearse Street, Dublin, to host a range of events over the ten-day festival, including the Irish-language play Ar Snámh by award-winning Irish-language writer Seán Mac Dhonnagáin, and the Irish in Resistance During World War II multidisciplinary exhibition, supported by the Arts Council Commissions Award.

The artistic curator for the festival was Mary Moynihan, Artistic Director, Smashing Times, while the human rights curator was Laura O’Leary, International Event and Promotions Coordinator, Front Line Defenders.

We would like to extend our immense gratitude to the festival partners: Front Line Defenders, Fighting Words, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, the National Women’s Council of Ireland, Trócaire, and GOAL NextGen. Creative partners included Irish Modern Dance Theatre, Splódar Theatre Company, The Dock Arts Centre, Index on Censorship, Riverbank Arts Centre, Access Cinema, the Irish Refugee Council, The Colombia Migrant Film Festival, An Táin Arts Centre, Mermaid Arts Centre, Encore Productions, Cork Arts Theatre, Sirius Arts Centre, An Taibhdhearc, The Baring Foundation, the Mental Health Foundation, Fermanagh & Omagh District Council, Enniskillen Castle Museums, Strule Arts Centre, The Barracks Heritage Centre, dlr Mill Theatre Dundrum, Rathfarnham Castle, OPW, and The Ireland Institute.

A special thanks to the funders of the festival and events: Fóras na Gaeilge, The Arts Council of Ireland, Creative Europe, Erasmus+, and The Arts Council Commissions Award under visual art, literature, and festivals. We extend our gratitude also to the Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Network, the Smashing Times Artist Development Programme, the Trees project, and the Theatre in Palm project.

Freda Manweiler presenting in Ankara, Türkiye

Smashing Times Travel

This month, Smashing Times Company Manager Freda Manweiler is in Ankara, Türkiye from 6–7 November as part of the Birlikte programme. The programme sees STGM, a Turkish civil society representative body, and The Wheel, a support and representative network for the community and voluntary sector in Ireland, organise thematic meetings for Turkish and Irish representatives. The final thematic meeting will focus on the role of the arts in human rights advocacy, particularly how creative methods can be used to address difficult topics such as war, conflict resolution, and community well-being.

Smashing Times were invited to Ankara due to their high-quality work using the arts in human rights advocacy and conflict resolution. According to STGM, ‘We aim to learn from their approach, especially their workshops with diverse communities and their use of creative arts to address challenging issues. Additionally, their experience across multiple countries, including Türkiye, makes them an ideal partner for this collaboration.’

A maroon graphic displaying the text 10 We Admire in white.

Deichniúr Thar Barr | 10 We Admire

In a constantly tumultuous world where people never seem to agree, conflicts are bound to arise. Sometimes large-scale conflicts, which can cause harm to large groups of people. But due to the perseverance of the human spirit, there are many that continue to champion the need for peace and reconciliation in order to create a better world. In this month’s 10 We Admire, we are taking the time to honour 10 artists who have been advocates of, and champions for, peace and reconciliation in both their art and their daily lives.

Claudia Andujar

Claudia Andujar (born 1931) is an award-winning Brazilian photographer. She was born to a Hungarian-Jewish father and Swiss mother. During World War II, Claudia and her mother took refuge in Switzerland while her father was put in the Dachau concentration camp where he eventually passed away. After meeting her husband, Claudia moved to Brazil in 1956, and was naturalised as a Brazilian citizen in 1976. In Brazil, she began a career in photojournalism, where she documented the culture of the Yanomami people, who had little contact with the outside world. When a highway project brought a deadly outbreak of measles to the Yanomami, she stopped her photography in order to assist them with medical aid. She spoke out against the appropriation of indigenous lands and was expelled from the region in 1977 by the Brazilian military regime. Her work over the years helped lead to the establishment of a protected area that Yanomami would be able to use.

Donald Sutherland

Donald Sutherland (1935–2024) was an award-winning Canadian actor with a career spanning six decades. He is widely known for his portrayal of President Snow in The Hunger Games franchise. Sutherland is also known for being an anti-war activist. He was a vocal opponent of the Vietnam War and was a part of the Free Theatre Associates (or Free The Army) tour, which protested the war. One of Sutherland’s many popular roles was in the anti-war comedy M*A*S*H (1970) which used the setting of the Korean War as a modern commentary on the Vietnam War. In 2015, he took on the role of President Snow in The Hunger Games. He asked to be in the film because he saw it as an opportunity to encourage younger viewers to organise for change in order to make a better, more peaceful world.

Anoushka Shankar plays her sitar with her eyes closed

Sitarist Anoushka Shankar

Anoushka Shankar

Anoushka Shankar (born 1981) is a British-American sitar player of Indian descent. Her childhood was spent living in London and Delhi, before her family moved to America. She has performed both as a classical sitarist within an orchestra and as a solo performer. Shankar has participated in many benefit concerts like the Summer’s Tibetan Peace Garden Benefit in 2000 and the 2003 Healing the Divide: A Concert for Peace and Reconciliation. She has also done work with the UN Refugee Agency to ensure that families torn apart by war are reunited, as well as with the UN World Food Programme to raise awareness about hunger and malnutrition in India. More recently, she signed the Artists4Ceasefire open letter calling for a ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas war.

Ibiyinka Alao

Ibiyinka Alao (born 1975) is a Nigerian-American visual artist, architect, film director, musical theatre composer, and writer. In 2001, he was the winner of the United Nations International Art Contest, and, in 2005, he was named Nigeria’s ‘Ambassador of Art’. Alao’s paintings promote a peaceful view of the integration of cultures. As an Art Ambassador, his work is used to represent the 1945 UN Charter of Peace, Food Security, Equality, Freedom, Human Dignity and more. Alao also serves as an advisor to the Japanese non-profit Ashinaga which provides educational funding and support to orphaned children. His work has also been used around the world in art therapy for creating peacemakers and building up community, as seen in their use in prisons and hospitals. Ibiyinka’s artworks have been featured in places such as the Nigerian National Museum, the Royal Netherlands Embassy, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Annot

Annot (1894–1981), also known after her marriage as Annot Jacobi, was a German painter, art teacher, art writer, and activist. She was born in Berlin to a wealthy family of academics. In 1916, she was jailed for distributing self-written pacifist messages that protested against World War I. In 1934, Annot emigrated with her family to the USA, to ‘spare her children an upbringing in the Third Reich.’ In 1935, she was awarded the gold medal at the 44th annual exhibition of women painters and sculptors in the Fine Art Building in New York for her painting Käthe Kruse and Her Children. During World War II, her paintings, which had been hanging in the Berlin National Gallery, were stolen or destroyed by the Nazis due to her anti-war positions. In 1956, Annot moved to Puerto Rico, where she was active in campaigning for nuclear disarmament. She and her husband returned to Germany in 1967.

Actor and activist Don Cheadle

Don Cheadle

Don Cheadle (born 1964) is an award-winning American actor and activist. He has received numerous awards, including two Grammy Awards, a Tony Award, two Golden Globes, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. He also received a Best Actor nomination at the Academy Awards for his role in Hotel Rwanda(2004). Outside of his acting credits, Cheadle is known for his activism and humanitarian work. Alongside human rights activist and author John Prendergast, he co-authored Not On Our Watch: The Mission to End Genocide in Darfur and Beyond. Following the book’s release in 2007, Cheadle co-founded Not On Our Watch with a group of actors who wanted to bring global attention and resources to these mass atrocities around the world. That same year, he also received a BET Humanitarian award for his work for the people of Rwanda and Darfur.

Lin Shihpao

Lin Shihpao (born 1962) is a Taiwanese sculptor and painter. He is known for his use of recycled materials. One of his most widely-known pieces is Pennies for Peace (1995–1997), inspired by the concept of wishing for peace with pennies. This artwork saw him collect one million pennies in the US and transform them into a sculpture. When the sculpture was finished, it was placed in Hiroshima University. Lin said, ‘It was good to send peace to Hiroshima from the US. 70 years after a bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, here is peace and love, a monument, a symbol of a million wishes for peace.’ In 2023, Lin began completing a daily painting, One Painting One Prayer, that documents his prayers for peace during the war in Ukraine; these have appeared in pop-up exhibitions around New York City.

Lily Gladstone

Lily Gladstone (born 1986) is a Native American actress. She was raised in Montana on the Blackfeet Reservation. In 2024, for her depiction of Osage woman Mollie Kyle in Martin Scorsese’s crime drama film Killers of the Flower Moon (2023), she became the first Native American to win the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, and the first to be nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards. Since 2011, she has been a supporter of the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC), which is a Native-led non-profit organisation that focuses on ending violence against Native women and children. Gender-based violence disproportionately affects indigenous communities and Gladstone is a proud advocate of the work that NIWRC does. She continues to bring awareness to issues affecting indigenous communities.

Visual artist David Koloane

David Koloane

David Koloane (1938–2019) was a visual artist from Johannesburg, South Africa. He was one of the founding members of South Africa’s first black art gallery in 1977. It was located in Johannesburg, where he began teaching art to high school students. In 1991, during apartheid, he created an artist residency organisation in an area that was not strictly black or white. In his drawings, paintings, and collages, he explored questions about political injustice and human rights. Koloane has said, ‘My work can be said to reflect the socio-political landscape of South Africa, both past and present.’ Koloane was instrumental in helping young black artists when they were banned from artistic spaces during apartheid, and in the push for equality and peace in South Africa. His works are part of many collections worldwide, such as The Contemporary African Art Collection (CAAC) of Jean Pigozzi and the Botswana National Museum.

Nicola Coughlan

Nicola Coughlan (born 1987) is an Irish actress known for her work in Bridgerton and Derry Girls. Despite being known for her acting roles, Nicola Coughlan is a fierce advocate for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. In July 2024, she raised over $2 million for Urgent Gaza Relief and Recovery, which is a campaign by the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund to provide aid in the Gaza Strip. Her desire for peace partly comes from her father, who served in the Irish Army during an effort to broker peace in the Middle East. During promotion for the most recent season of Bridgerton, she was frequently seen wearing an Artists4Ceasefire pin, and has given multiple statements calling for peace and for world leaders to stop sending arms to Israel.

Nuacht ón nGréasán | News From the Network

Warm Homes for All: Tenants for Climate Justice

Friends of the Earth hosted an online event on Wednesday, 6 November, 2024, titled Warm Homes for All: Tenants for Climate Justice. The organisation has been consistently campaigning for the extension and improvement of the government’s retrofitting programme. More information here.

EURORESO Award 2024 Now Open

The EURORESO Award 2024 invites submissions of innovative and sustainable projects on the theme of ‘Fostering the Green Economy Through Education and Training’. The deadline is Friday, 14 March, 2025. Click here for links to more information and to apply.

Election 2024 Arts Hustings

The National Campaign for the Arts (NCFA) has called on all candidates in the upcoming General Election to commit to retain, extend, and expand the Basic Income for the Arts scheme as well as to address the housing crisis and space crisis affecting artists nationwide. This Arts Hustings takes place at 1pm on Monday, 18 November, 2024 at the Gate Theatre, Cavendish Row, and gives arts spokespersons of all political parties the opportunity to address the artists and arts workers of Ireland, and answer questions about their arts policies. RSVP: RSVP@GATE-THEATRE.IE

Front Line Defenders’ Dublin Platform

At a time of unprecedented backlash against them, dozens of the most at-risk human rights defenders (HRDs) from all regions of the world came together with dignitaries and civil society leaders in Dublin for three days, from 23–25 October, at Front Line Defenders’ flagship event, the Dublin Platform. First held in 2002, previous Dublin Platforms have given HRDs from almost every country the opportunity to share strategies for advocacy and protection, build solidarity with colleagues around the world, and network with high-level decision makers. More information here.

Hector Ó hEochagáin walks along a cobbled street in Temple Bar, wearing black and looking upwards.

Agallamh le hHector Ó hEochagáin Faoina Leabhar Nua | Interview with Hector Ó hEochagáin About His New Book

Labhair an craoltóir aitheanta Hector Ó hEochagáin le Tuairisc faoina leabhar nua a d’eascair ón ngrá atá aige don Ghaeilge. Tuilleadh eolais anseo.

The well-known broadcaster Hector Ó hEochagáin spoke to Tuairisc about his new book which arose from his love of the Irish language. More information here.

Seachtain Amháin Go Féile Liteartha Chorca Dhuibhne | One Week Until Dingle Literary Festival

Níl le fanacht ach seachtain amháin go gcruinneoidh scríbhneoirí, filí, agus léitheoirí i gCiarraí d’Fhéile Liteartha Chorca Dhuibhne ar an 15 Samhain. Tuilleadh eolais anseo.

There is only one week left until writers, poets, and readers gather in Kerry for the Chorca Dhuibhne Literary Festival on 15 November. More information here.

WALK Conference

WALK (Walkinstown Association for People with an Intellectual Disability) hosted a conference on self-advocacy at the IHREC event space, on Tuesday, 22 October, 2024. Click here to watch it back.

TNT & CENIT – Festival MITIN

TNT-Atalaya and CENIT are hosting the 17th MITIN international theatre festival from 25 October–10 November in Seville, with performances of plays such as Yo soy gente rara or El Lodo que fuimos. More information here.

If you would like an item included in a future edition, through either English or Irish, please monitor our website and social media for the latest Submissions Call.

Deontais agus Deiseanna | Grants and Opportunities

Black-and-white photo of a person working on a Mac laptop, their face unseen.

For individuals and organisations in the arts and human rights

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA): Grants for Arts Projects

The NEA provides grants to artist-led projects in the United States that have a social impact, and is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, and fostering mutual respect for the diverse beliefs and values of all individuals and groups. The deadline is Friday, November 8, 2024. Apply via our Grants and Opportunities page.

Freelands Art Fund Acquisition

The annual Freelands Award was established in 2016 to enable arts organisations to present an exhibition, including significant new work, by a mid-career woman artist in the UK who may not yet have received the public recognition that their work deserves. The deadline is rolling, with priority given to applications submitted by Friday, November 15, 2024. Apply via our Grants and Opportunities page.

Culture Ireland: Regular Grant Scheme

Culture Ireland’s Regular Grant Scheme offers support to Irish professional artists, arts organisations, and international presenters to present work by Irish artists at significant international venues and festivals. The deadline is Friday, 15 November, 2024. Apply via our Grants and Opportunities page.

Arts Council of Ireland: Festivals Investment Scheme (FIS) 2025

The Festival Investment Scheme, supporting festivals running between 1 July and 31 December, 2025, is aimed at fostering a diverse arts-festival landscape, this scheme encourages models that enhance public engagement and support artist/artform development. The deadline is 5:30pm on Thursday, 21 November, 2024. Apply via our Grants and Opportunities page.

Culture Moves Europe: Individual Mobility Action 3

Culture Moves Europe provides mobility grants for artists and cultural professionals in all 40 creative Europe countries. The deadline for the third call is Saturday, 30 November, 2024. Apply via our Grants and Opportunities page.

Job Opportunities

Two Vacancies at National Sculpture Factory

The National Sculpture Factory is recruiting for two roles: Director and Technical & Studio Manager. The deadlines are both Monday, 11 November, 2024. Apply via our Grants and Opportunities page.

Circus Factory Cork: Company Manager

Circus Factory in Cork is seeking a Company Manager to lead its operational, artistic, and strategic initiatives. Applicants should submit a CV, cover letter, and two professional references. The deadline is 5pm on Wednesday, 13 November, 2024. Apply via our Grants and Opportunities page.

Esker Arts: Administrator & Technical & Facilities Manager

The Board of Esker Arts in Tullamore, Co Offaly, is seeking qualified candidates for the roles of Administrator (full-time) and Technical & Facilities Manager (full-time). The deadline is 4pm on Thursday, 14 November, 2024. Apply via our Grants and Opportunities page.

The Guesthouse Project: Visual Artist in Residence

The Guesthouse Project presents international and Irish artists and collaborative groups with an opportunity to live and work in Cork City. The deadline has been extended to Friday, 15 November. Apply via our Grants and Opportunities page.

Artist-in-Residence at CERN (Switzerland)

CERN is seeking a creative artist to collaborate with scientists in exploring innovative ideas at the intersection of science and art. The location is Geneva, Switzerland, while the deadline is Sunday, 1 December, 2024. Apply via our Grants and Opportunities page.

For more grants and opportunities, please visit our Grants and Opportunities page.

That’s it for this month. Thanks for reading. The next edition of the newsletter comes out on Thursday, 5 December, while the first standalone edition of Tintreach, our new online arts and literary journal, will be published on Thursday, 30 January, 2025. Keep an eye on our website and social media for more information on submissions.

Beir bua agus beannacht,

Féilim James, Smashing Times Newsletter Editor
Carmen Ortiz Victorino, Smashing Times Assistant Newsletter Editor
Alora McCarroll, Intern