Ensemble on the Edge
This was an invitation to artists who wanted to reconnect - who had been feeling isolated or excluded from both the existing and reboot of the creative landscape.
The call:
Ensemble on the Edge will bring together a small group of creatives to explore how we can build an arts sector that is fairer, more adventurous and inclusive, through a series of creative think tanks.
Who are we?
The sessions will be led by Gemma Gallagher in association with Mermaid Arts Centre and is part of a process devised and funded through the Arts Council of Ireland Artists Bursary Grant.
A note about what has inspired this process and call out: 'I like many people have felt the isolation in the past few years. I've had long gaps in work before, but each time it feels a little bit harder to find the momentum to start again. Do you relate? This idea was born from my own sense of disconnect. So I want to try something different. I want to create a forum, a think tank if you like. This is an experiment. A selfish act created in the hope of feeling less on the edge.’ Gemma Gallagher
Gemma is a Theatre maker committed to the exploration of new ways of presenting the emotional and instinctual language of theatre inspired by real life events and experiences. She was a co-founder of Shadowbox with whom she was involved in devising and directing a number of productions. Most recently she has been developing a semi-auto biographical theatre piece, Complicit, exploring whistleblowing in social care.
Gemma has a long term relationship with Mermaid Arts. This project connects powerfully with Mermaid’s priorities to champion artists by providing an artist-led creative hub and artistic resource for artists and companies and be a pipeline for new work through offering practical supports for the creative development of artists and their work.
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for artists interested in shaping new and inclusive practice, particularly artists whose work is forward-looking and who may be struggling to connect right now.
The scheme is open to individual artists, including but not limited to: Actors, Choreographers, Circus/Street Arts Performers, Composers, Creative Producers, Curators/Programmers (working in an arts context), Dancers, Designers (e.g. set, costume, lighting), Directors, Dramaturgs, Facilitators (participatory arts, youth theatre), Film Artists, Literary Writers (e.g. novelists, poets), Musicians, Playwrights, Picture-book Illustrators, Singers, Visual Artists. The applicant does not have to earn their living exclusively from their work in the arts, but they must self-identify as an artist.
What are we hoping to do?
This is a call to be part of something again. Do you want to start to create again, and reflect on your work for the future? We want to provide a space to meet and create a supportive environment to connect again and share creatively. No real agenda just a place to support and help to feel a part of something, to explore ideas and share and play.
The provocation
Bring us your games, your methods, your thoughts, your energy.
Bring us your hope, your questions, your joy, your pain.
Bring us your openness and desire to create, even though you felt you never would again....
Bring us your doubt, your fatigue, your 'can I really do this anymore', bring us your blank canvas and lets see what we can do when strangers get together in a room.
The development of Ensemble on the Edge has been funding through thanks to the Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon.