PROPEL Award 2025 Call Out
ABOUT THE PROGRAMME
2025 will see the delivery of cycle 5 of the PROPEL Artist Development Programme. PROPEL is an established artist support initiative that utilizes the network’s existing infrastructure, resources, and wider network partnerships to support the sustainable development of independent theatre makers working within the Irish theatre sector. Programme callouts are run annually, and the award is delivered over three years, in three graduating cycles (early, mid, final). The aim of this programme is to strengthen the ecology of the Irish theatre sector by firstly supporting the development of new work by independent theatre makers, and secondly by supporting the long-term sustainable development of artists through capacity building and strategic professional development.
What the programme offers –
· Year 1 - €20,000 bursary to support the ‘early stage’ of development of artistic practice and professional strategic development.
· Year 2 - €10,000 bursary to support the ‘mid stage’ development of artistic practice and professional strategic development.
· Year 3 - €5,000 bursary to support the ‘final stage’ of development of artistic practice and professional strategic development.
· Access to development and rehearsal spaces in 10 Arts Centres across the country.
· Support and mentorship from a panel of experts in producing, fundraising, technical production, marketing, finance, cultural entrepreneurship, audience development and engagement, and strategic business development and management.
· An opportunity to present a work-in-progress performance or showing as part of a major festival.
Actor and writer Clare Monnelly, recipient of the 2024 PROPEL Programme Award, said: PROPEL is a singular opportunity for an artist. To be given such support to pursue your craft in a way that is self determined is so rare, and it has been an incredible gift. Developing relationships with venues across the country who you know back you and your work is invaluable to sustaining a career in theatre and I couldn't recommend this opportunity enough.
The 2023 PROPEL Programme Award recipient was Choy-Ping Clarke-Ng 吳彩萍, who is a Hong Kong-Irish theatre maker and designer of set, costume and video. Asked about PROPEL, they said: Being part of PROPEL has played a vital role in sustaining my practice over the past few years through supporting the development of new work and helping me connect with exciting venues around the country. I’m grateful for the foundations PROPEL has helped lay and looking forward to building on these projects and relationships in the time ahead.
HOW TO APPLY
The application process for the programme has been divided into two stages:
Stage 1: A short form application process (Closing date Friday 2nd May 2025 5pm)
Stage 2: Long form application process for artists that have been shortlisted during stage 1 and have been requested by the selection panel to submit a more detailed proposal. Artists who are not strategically funded will be paid a fee of €100 to complete the stage two application.
The following application is for stage one of this process only.
The closing date for receipt of stage 1 applications is Friday 2nd May 2025, 5pm. Those who have been selected to submit a long form application will be requested to do so on or before Friday the 30th of May 2025.
Please note in order to complete this application you will need to attach the following documentation in one PDF document (max. 6 pages, no more than 10MB in size) which should include:
- Artist CV, BIO and/or Statement
- Examples of previous work (images and/or links to examples of previous work)
We hope that by offering two different options for completing the main section of this application, via both text and video, that we have managed to make this application process as accessible as possible (see section 2.1 & 2.2). If you require further reasonable adjustment or additional support in completing this application please contact strollersnetwork@gmail.com.
ABOUT THE NETWORK
The Strollers Network is Irelands the largest consortium of Arts Centres. Its partnership is made up of ten venues from across four regions of the country. The network represents one fifth of all publicly funded Arts Centres Nationally. Partner organisations include Belltable (Limerick), Draíocht (Dublin), Watergate (Kilkenny), Solstice (Navan), Visual (Carlow), Linenhall (Mayo), Hawk’s Well (Sligo), Riverbank (Kildare), Source (Tipperary) and Siamsa Tíre (Kerry).
Since its establishment in 2010 the network has supported the production and dissemination of new staged works by some of Ireland’s leading theatre artists, companies and musicians including; Julie Feeney (2011), Fishamble: The New Play Company (2013 & 2018), Theatre Lovett (2012), Moonfish Theatre Company (2014/15), Duke Special (2017), Monkeyshine Theatre Company (2016) and most recently Joanne Ryan’s national tour of ‘Eggsistentialism’ (2019).
Historically the network has supported artists in two distinct ways, firstly through our annual touring award of €10,000 and secondly by providing artists and companies access to a touring platform which utilised the network’s existing touring infrastructure.
Since 2020 the network has embarked on the development and delivery of a new strategic plan which aims to strengthen the ecology of the Irish arts sector by utilising the network’s existing infrastructures, resources, and wider network partnerships to support the sustainable development of independent artists working within the Irish theatre sector. 2021 will see the launch of PROPEL, a newly established artist development and mentorship programme supporting the early stage research and development of new work by independent theatre artists living and working in Ireland.
Posted on 16 Apr 2025.
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