Wicklow County Council Arts Office is developing a suite of professional supports for artists and arts professionals in recognition of disruption to lives and livelihoods brought about by COVID-19.
These will complement the funding supports it makes available through grants.
Already, 2021 looks set to be another year of uncertainty and challenge for those within the county working as artists and arts professionals.
To kickstart the year, the Arts Office is offering professional artists and those working in arts organisations the opportunity to avail of arts-specific coaching/mentoring sessions. Two one-hour sessions will be available per individual/organisation.
The objective of these sessions is to build the confidence and capacity of artists and arts professionals to be at their best in terms of their thinking, practice or performance at work in 2021.
Wicklow County Arts Officer, Jenny Sherwin, said: “‘2021 is going to be another difficult year for us all. We hope that this initiative, coming early in the year, will help professional artists and arts workers to think about and plan for challenges of the year ahead, and also to be ready for opportunities that will emerge. The Arts Council and local authorities like ourselves are working hard to make relevant supports available to artists and arts organisations at this time”.
A range of qualified coaches and specialist consultants are involved in this initiative including Susan Coughlan, Helen Meany, Paul Johnson, Janice McAdam and Katherine Zeserson. Each has deep knowledge and experience of working in the arts and with artists. Coaching will be available from mid-February.
For further information and to register your interest, please visit https://www.wicklow.ie/Living/Services/Arts-Heritage-Archives/Arts/Artist-Supports/Info-page-for-coaching-and-mentoring or follow Wicklow County Arts Office on Facebook. Closing date for applications is Monday 8th February at 12noon.