07 Nov 2013

The SPACE Programme 2014

The SPACE Programme 2014

The Performance Corporation is proud to announce the launch of the fourth SPACE Programme – the company's collaborative artists' residency in Castletown House, Celbridge in early 2014. Artists from all disciplines are invited to apply now to take part in this unique programme that develops artists through collaboration and experimentation.

The SPACE Programme is an intensive, two-week residency offering arts and creative practitioners an opportunity to collaborate, experiment and innovate. The residency allows Irish and international artists to escape their creative comfort zone in an open and inspiring environment. It will take place from January 26th to February 7th 2014 at Castletown House, Celbridge Co. Kildare, Ireland.

The residency was the first of its kind when it began in 2008, and remains unique in terms of the scope of the collaborations between artists and creatives from different disciplines. The SPACE Programme facilitates collaborations on new approaches to making work, but without the pressure of a deadline or the expectation of a fully finished product. Previous programmes have seen fruitful and unexpected collaborations between comedy and science, dance and architecture, theatre and photography. The SPACE Programme has also sown the seeds for numerous full-scale projects, as well as long-lasting collaborations between artists, and sometimes career-changing personal development.

'We love collaboration. We also love experiments. From the very beginning these have been the things we've enjoyed most about making theatre and art,' says Jo Mangan, CEO of The Performance Corporation. 'Of course collaboration and experimentation are the things that drive all great artistic endeavours, but we had a feeling that they were too often rushed or cut short in order to meet the deadline of opening night. We wanted to see what would happen if collaboration and experimentation were given more space. A range of highly successful theatre and arts projects have emerged due to the research and development that started in SPACE.'
Oisín Byrne, The Paper Ball, 2010


Previous participants have come from a very broad range of fields including theatre, visual arts, music, architecture, science, design, film, dance, writing, comedy and photography. The participants are a mix of Irish and international artists, coming from as far afield as Argentina and Russia. Here's what some past participants have been saying:

'Intense, shattering and totally immersive: The SPACE Programme is a stimulating and practice-changing two weeks of collaboration.' - Oisín Byrne, Visual Artist

'It has been one of the most important experiences of my career.' - Ciaran Bagnall, Designer

'The diversity and quality of participating artists and the structure of the program made for a very special experience, one that will continue to inform who I am as an artist and how I go about creating work.' - Justin Yang, Composer

The application process is now open, and submissions are welcome from individual Irish and International practitioners in all disciplines. Closing Date for applications: 5pm, 15th November, 2013.

Full details and application form available at www.theperformancecorporation.com/space


The SPACE Programme is presented by The Performance Corporation, funded by The Arts Council and supported by the OPW.

The Performance Corporation is an award-winning theatre and arts company, founded in 2002 by director Jo Mangan and playwright Tom Swift with a mission to create 'theatrical adventures in surprising places'. The company has since garnered consistent critical acclaim and numerous awards for its work which includes a string of successful theatre and arts events in Ireland, the US, Britain, Germany, Finland and Kenya. Their work includes site-specific plays that are tailor-made and written for a place or community; high-impact arts interventions in public spaces; audio tours for heritage locations and bespoke arts festivals like this year's highly successful BIG HOUSE Festival in Castletown House and Parklands, Co Kildare.