Organizer Information
Dublin City Council’s Creative Hubs programme, delivered by The Ark, invites submissions for a Visual Arts Exhibition Commission in collaboration with and curated by the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA). The Creative Hubs initiative supports access to high-quality arts experiences for children, schools, and families through partnerships between libraries, artists, educators, and cultural organizations.
The programme is part of Dublin City Council’s wider commitment to increasing access to arts and cultural experiences for young audiences in local communities. It operates through key library-based Creative Hubs in Ballyfermot, Cabra, Coolock, and Central libraries, creating opportunities for artists to develop innovative projects in community settings.
IMMA, Ireland’s leading centre for contemporary art, supports the project through curatorial expertise, technical assistance, and an education and learning programme. IMMA focuses on presenting, researching, and developing contemporary artistic practices while creating inclusive opportunities for audiences of all ages to engage with contemporary art.
Title & Description
Visual Arts Exhibition Commission for Ballyfermot Library Creative Hub (Curated by IMMA)
Dublin City Council, The Ark, and IMMA are seeking an artist or artist collective to create an engaging visual arts exhibition designed specifically for children, schools, and families. The commissioned artwork will be presented at Ballyfermot Library, Dublin, for approximately 10 weeks from April to June 2027.
The selected artist will develop an innovative exhibition that encourages children’s curiosity, imagination, and engagement with contemporary visual art. Proposals should respond to the theme of nature and the natural world, reflecting IMMA’s ongoing exploration of connections between climate, culture, and collective action.
The exhibition should consider the library environment, the local community of Ballyfermot, and the interests and imaginative lives of children under 12 years old. The project should provide opportunities for children to engage not only with the finished exhibition but also with the artist’s creative process through activities such as studio visits, interviews, or educational engagement.
Categories
- Visual Art
- Contemporary Art
- Installation Art
- Interactive Art
- Exhibition Design
- Community Arts
- Children’s Art / Family Engagement
- Multidisciplinary Artistic Practices
Eligibility
- Open to professional artists and artist collectives.
- International and national applicants may apply.
- Applicants should have an established artistic practice and experience creating visual artworks or exhibitions.
- The opportunity is suitable for artists working in contemporary visual arts who can develop accessible and engaging work for children and family audiences.
- Artists should demonstrate an ability to work within a community and educational context.
- The commissioned exhibition must be suitable for children under 12 years old.
Program Benefits & Awards
- €10,000 commission award for research, development, and delivery of the commissioned artwork.
- Exhibition opportunity at Ballyfermot Library, Dublin, from April–June 2027.
- Curatorial support from IMMA.
- Technical installation support from IMMA.
- Support from Dublin City Arts Office, Ballyfermot Library staff, and Creative Hubs coordinators.
- Optional mentorship support from Arts Office representatives.
- Opportunity to contribute to an education and learning programme developed by IMMA for primary school children and families.
- Opportunity to introduce audiences to the artistic process through studio visits, interviews, or engagement activities.
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 15 October 2026
- Shortlisted Artists Meeting: 29 October 2026
- Award Notification: Week beginning 2 November 2026
- Exhibition Opening: April 2027 (final dates to be confirmed)
- Exhibition Duration: Approximately 10 weeks (April–June 2027)
Location
Ballyfermot Library, Dublin, Ireland
Additional Details
The commission is the fifth visual arts exhibition commission developed through Dublin City Council’s Creative Hubs programme. Previous commissions include projects by artists such as Aideen Barry, Barbara Knezevic, Jane Locke, and Lucy McKenna, each creating innovative exhibitions designed for young audiences.
Proposals will be assessed according to:
- Quality of the proposed visual arts experience for children (30%)
- Understanding of and engagement with the library context (20%)
- Consideration of children’s needs, interests, and engagement programme development (30%)
- Ability to structure research, development, delivery timeline, and feasibility (20%)
Selected artists should be prepared to collaborate with cultural organizations, educators, and library teams throughout the development process.