Banner image by Hans Gerritsen | Irish artist Orlaith Ní Chearra at BRIK Festival 2023
Opportunity for artists passionate about developing performances for young audiences
Baboró seeks two artists to participate in collaborative workshops hosted by international European festivals.
If selected, you will:
- Participate in two 5-day practical workshops in 2024 with a cohort of 11 other creatives from across Europe;
- Experience two European children’s arts festivals with your workshop cohort;
- Receive a daily fee of €200 to cover workshop and travel days. The cost of all travel, accommodation and festival tickets will be covered.
BABEL - The Art of Listening (2022-2025)
This opportunity is made possible through our partnership on a 4 year Creative Europe project involving 14 partners from 11 different European countries. It pursues the rights of children and youth to full cultural citizenship, and aims to investigate the communication process, intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding in Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) and more extensively the Performing Arts for Young Audiences.
You can read more about Babel and how Baboró is involved, including testimonials from our 2023 Babel artists here.
Selected participants will each travel to two designated international children’s arts festivals to see work, network, and engage in a 5-day practical workshop.
In the workshop sessions, you will explore:
- How to build a sensory-based connection between performers and young audience members in your work;
- The challenges of relationships between artists in an international context. This includes addressing multilingualism and nonverbal collaboration, as well as communicating and understanding personal and subjective artistry.
These workshops are collaborative and have a concentration on devising and performance. The cohort will comprise of creatives with varied experience-levels. The 5 days culminate in a small, informal performance.
Workshop Schedule
You can only apply for one Workshop Series.
**Please note: Should you be selected, you must be able to attend all days of both workshop weeks and the travel days. In the off chance that there are any adjustments to the workshop dates, you will be promptly notified.
Workshop Series #1
Both workshops will be facilitated by JES (Stuttgart) founder and now-freelance director, Brigitte Dethier. These workshops will have particular focus on movement.
22 - 29 September 2024, Festival Lutke (Slovenia)
An international puppet festival for children
*Plus travel days on 21 and 30 September 2024
11 - 15 November 2024, Festival El Petit (Spain)
An international festival for early years.
*Plus travel days on 10 and 16 November 2024
Workshop Series #2
Both workshops will be facilitated by Alex Byrne, artistic director of New International Encounter (NIE). These workshops will have particular focus on music.
12 - 16 October 2024, Baboró International Arts Festival for Children (Ireland)
*Plus travel days on 11 and 17 October 2024 if needed
13 - 17 January 2025, Festival Kitoks (Lithuania)
An international festival focused on contemporary, nontraditional performances.
*Plus travel days on 12 and 18 January 2025
Baboró strives to make sure that all children in Ireland see themselves and their stories reflected in the arts. We endeavour to deliver projects and present performances which reflect the diversity of the Ireland we live in today. We strongly encourage artists from currently underrepresented backgrounds to apply, including those working as Gaeilge.
We welcome applications from individuals who satisfy the following criteria:
- Are artists or creatives with at least two year’s professional experience. This includes, but is not limited to, performers, actors, dancers, directors, devisors and choreographers;
- Are passionate about performance for young audiences and can demonstrate clear ambition for making work in the TYA sector;
- Are comfortable collaborating with artists of varied experience-levels;
- Are based on the island of Ireland;
- Can commit to attending the full programme (see ‘The Workshops’ section for schedules);
- Are over 18 years of age and not a full-time student.
Desirable Criteria:
- Enjoy working collaboratively with new people;
- Have experience travelling internationally;
- Are interested in multicultural and/or nonverbal work;
- Work as Gaeilge and/or speak a language other than English;
- Are interested in community facilitation;
- Have professional experience in performing/making performances for young audiences.
We’d love to hear from you, please submit:
- A brief CV (3 pages maximum);
- 3 short examples of previous work:
- Can be photos or videos (5 minutes maximum), a script extract (2 pages maximum), written descriptions or testimonials/reviews (1 page maximum), or a website entry.
- Identify which Workshop Series you would like to apply for (see ‘Workshops’ section for schedule and details about each series).
- Remember, you must be available for both sessions within the desired Workshop Series to be eligible.
- A response to the following prompts in either written (500 words maximum), audio or video recording (3-5 minutes maximum) format:
- What about this opportunity excites you as an artist? (approximately 200 words or 1-2 minutes)
- Share with us a moment when you could not use your own language to communicate. How did you communicate instead? What did this reveal to you about yourself? (approximately 200 words or 1-2 minutes)
- How will this opportunity enhance your practice and/or future plans? (approximately 100 words or 1 minute)
Please send your document or recording to rachel[@]baboro.ie including ‘BABEL - Round 3’ in the subject line.
Closing date for applications is end of day Wednesday, 3 April at midnight.
Should you need any assistance in creating your application, feel free to contact Rachel at rachel[@]baboro.ie or call the Baboró office at 091 562 667.
We will respond to all applicants by 3 May.
If, at any point before the deadline, you would like to withdraw your application, simply send us an email.
Access | Roctain
We want to minimise barriers you may face in applying for, or participating in, this opportunity. We can offer limited access supports and want to work with you to ensure this opportunity is attainable. Access supports can include, but are not limited to, additional funds for child care, a companion or accessibility costs such as taxis. We are happy to chat about any additional support you may require and will try our best to accommodate you. Please contact Rachel at rachel[@]baboro.ie or call our office at 091 562 667 should you have a particular query.
Cuirimid roinnt tacaíochtaí rochtana ar fáil, ag brath ar acmhainní teoranta, agus ba mhaith linn oibriú leat lena chinntiú go féidir leat tabhairt faoin deis seo. Is féidir cistí breise le haghaidhcúram leanaí nó compánach nó costais inrochtaineachta ar nós tacsaithe a áireamh, ach níl siad teoranta dóibh sin amháin. Beidh muid sásta labhairt leat faoi aon tacaíocht bhreise a d’fhéadfadh a bheith uait agus déanfaimid ár ndícheall freastal ar na riachtanais seo. Déan teagmháil le Rachel ag rachel[@]baboro.ie nó cuir glaoch ar an oifig ar 091 562 667 má tá ceist ar leith agat.
Information Session
The Information Session is now over. Please find a recording of the session below.
Statement of Care | Ráiteas Cúraim
We recognise that life comes with challenges and needs are different for everyone. We can offer additional support for submitting your application and are happy to discuss any additional supports you might require. Please contact Rachel at rachel[@]baboro.ie for more support.
Aithnímid go dtagann dúshláin leis an saol agus go mbíonn riachtanais éagsúla ag gach duine. Is féidir linn tacaíocht a thairiscint chun d’iarratas a chur isteach agus táimid sásta aon tacaíochtaí breise a d’fhéadfadh a bheith uait a phlé. Déan teagmháil le Rachel ag rachel[@]baboro.ie le haghaidh tuilleadh tacaíochta.
Key Dates
- Applications Open Wednesday 6 March 2024
- Information Session Thursday 21 March at 2:30pm
- Applications Close end of day Wednesday, 3 April 2024 at midnight
- All participants will be notified by Friday, 3 May 2024
Supported by
Baboró is committed to making sure that all children in Ireland will be able to see themselves reflected in the arts. We want to support you to help build this community.
Baboró tiomanta do chinntiú go mbeidh gach leanbh in Éirinn in ann iad féin a fheiceáil léirithe sna healaíona. Ba mhaith linn tacaíocht a thabhairt duit chun cabhrú leis an bpobal seo a thógáil.
