Perspectives of the City is a new exhibition by Waterford Gallery of Art (WGOA) inspired by Waterford City and the surrounding urban environment. Running from October 22nd 2026 to January 30th 2027 the display includes work from the historic Waterford Art Collection as well as several small contemporary commissions. To coincide with this exhibition Creative Waterford are seeking to commission a creative residency for O’Connell Street, Waterford City.
Overview:
Creative Waterford and Waterford Gallery of Art in collaboration with Waterford Cultural Quarter and Waterford Arts Office are seeking applications from collaborative, socially engaged artists and creatives for a residency scheme in O’Connell Street Waterford. The area around O’Connell Street and its tributaries, a richly historic thoroughfare of the city, with a tapestry of heritage buildings and deep memories as a place of trade, worship and social practice. Along with enlivening the WGOA Perspectives of the City Exhibition, the residency will engage with the community in and around O’Connell Street to explore their place and relationship to it through the transformative power of creative practice.
A small studio space will be available in WGOA throughout the residency and a larger space can be arranged for workshops/encounters/performances as required.
The resident creative will be asked to;
- Engage with the environs and community around O’Connell Street through creative practice.
- Host at least two public, participatory workshops, encounters or art pieces.
- Create a temporary or permanent artistic product relating to the present or the future of O’Connell Street. This may include (but is not limited to) exhibitions, performances, photography, film and music.
- Foster social interaction and inspire meaningful community participation in the creative design of cultural placemaking.
- Accommodate diverse needs of participants.
Timeline:
Two months between exhibition dates of October 22 2026 – January 30 2027
Creatives Fee:
€3,000 (a materials budget is also available. The scale of the materials budget will be dependent on project needs)
Project Management:
The resident creative will be responsible for devising and delivering the creative program with the community of O’Connell Street. Project Management Support will be provided by the Creative Communities Engagement Officer.
Application:
Applications are open to creative practitioners of any medium living in Waterford City & County (architecture, circus, crafts, dance, digital media, film, music, theatre, writing, visual art, and multi-disciplinary practice and design of all kinds).
Applicants will be shortlisted based on the criteria below and the shortlisted applicants will be invited for a brief informal interview.
To apply please submit the following by email to cwaterford@waterfordcouncil.ie and use Creative Residency 2026 in your subject line.
- A short statement outlining your creative practice.
- An up-to-date artists Bio/C.V. (maximum 2 A4 pages).
- A one-page cover letter outlining your experience of and approach to community engaged creative arts practice and your vision of a successful residency.
- A proposed/draft timeline for the residency.
- Up to 5 examples of previous work.
Deadline for applications is Midnight Sunday October 11th. Please send any call-out/application queries to cwaterford@waterfordcouncil.ie, last date for queries is 3pm Friday October 2nd.
Scoring Criteria:
| Proposals creative value. | 100
|
| Quality of the approach to community engagement and experience working with diverse groups. | 200 |
| Applicants track record of project delivery. | 100 |
| Creative vision. | 100 |
| Total | 500 |