RADAR: Research and Development Artist Residency

Started: July 2022, as an evolution from the Inspirational Arts Photography Award established in 2009.
What: RADAR is a one-year residency programme for recent graduates of any Photography and Visual Arts degree on the island of Ireland, from Diploma to Master’s.
When: Graduates are invited to apply towards the end of the academic year. Selections are made in early summer, and the residency runs for a year.
Where: At the International Centre for the Image, The Library Project, and other locations.
Why: The programme aims to provide artists with adequate national and international opportunities to engage with the broader arts context and consolidate their practice.

RADAR: Research and Development Artist Residency is a year-long residency programme for recent graduates of any Photography and Visual Arts degree on the island of Ireland, from Diploma to Masters. The programme aims to provide artists with adequate national and international opportunities to engage with the broader arts context and consolidate their practice. RADAR is an ambitious evolution of the Inspirational Arts Photography Award, first established in 2009, now expanding its remit to provide critical opportunities with the support of PhotoIreland.

The residency provides 5 graduates with advice, guidance, and professional support, as well as a range of resources and materials to ensure substantial progress in the artists’ practice and career development: a research space in Dublin at the International Centre for the Image, and The Library Project, with access to the PhotoIreland Collection of photobooks and scanning facilities. In addition, participants will benefit from a selection of opportunities offered by PhotoIreland’s Creative Europe networks, as well as key events on the Photography calendar, in Ireland and abroad. They will be able to visit public and private events, thus gaining direct insight and experience from the art form’s arena.

But what do participants benefit from RADAR: Research and Development Artist Residency:

PhotoIreland’s Professional Development Programme focuses on three core areas of the artist’s practice: Research and Project Development, Practice Management and Self-Discipline, Business Skills and Sustainability
Advanced Digital Printing training at Inspirational Arts
A voucher for Fine Art printing costs at Inspirational Arts
Fine Art print advice and support throughout the residency
Research space in Dublin at the International Centre for the Image
Access to the PhotoIreland Collection of photobooks
Access to Darkroom and film scanning facilities
Access to key events in the Photography calendar, in Ireland and abroad
Local and international networking opportunities
Benefit from opportunities presented by PhotoIreland’s Creative Europe networks

At the end of the programme, participants will have expanded their professional network, advanced their business and research skills, strengthened their practice, and acquired a sound and proactive outlook on their place in the international context.

NOMINATION AND PROCESS

Every year in January, all Diploma, BA, and Master programmes nationwide are informed of the RADAR call, requesting that tutors prepare a list of up to five artists per programme for consideration by the last week of April.

Tutors should identify individuals that they believe would benefit from the programme, those who have shown a consistent interest and demonstrate potential to progress towards a stable arts practice, regardless of the current quality of their output.

We contact each nominated student to gather all relevant details about their practice within the first week of May. From the initial longlist, Inspirational Arts and PhotoIreland select five artists who will join the programme; their names are announced in late June.

Previous awardees

2025

Charlie Dineen, Institute of Art Design and Technology Dun Laoghaire (IADT), BA (Hons) Photography and Visual Media
Dónal Talbot, Ulster University Belfast Campus (UUB), MFA Photography with Video
Elia de Leon, Technological University of Dublin (TUD), BA Photography
Emily Roche, National College of Art and Design, CEAD L7 Photography and Digital Imaging
Rosie Feeney, National College of Art and Design, CEAD L7 Photography and Digital Imaging

2024

Ciara Richardson, Technological University of Dublin (TUD), BA Photography
Conn McCarrick, Griffith College Dublin, BA Photographic Media
Evanna Devine, Institute of Art Design and Technology Dun Laoghaire (IADT), BA (Hons) Photography
Finbar Flanagan, Institute of Art Design and Technology Dun Laoghaire (IADT), BA (Hons) Photography
Jake Hughes, Ulster University Belfast Campus (UUB), BA (Hons) Photography with Video

2023

Berta Martinez, Griffith College Dublin, BA Photographic Media
Dee Byrne, Technological University of Dublin (TUD), BA (Hons) Photography
Emily J McEvoy, Ulster University Belfast Campus (UUB), BA (Hons) Photography with Video
Lisa Folschette, Institute of Art Design and Technology Dun Laoghaire (IADT), BA (Hons) Photography
Tyrell McBride, Institute of Art Design and Technology Dun Laoghaire (IADT), BA (Hons) Photography

2022

Ayesha Ahmad, Institute of Art Design and Technology Dun Laoghaire (IADT), BA (Hons) Photography
Daniel Breen, Technological University of the Shannon Midlands Midwest (TUS), BA (Hons) Photography, Film, Video
Gareth Byrne, National College of Art and Design (NCAD), CEAD Level 7 Photography and Digital Imaging
Ryan Allen, Ulster University Belfast Campus (UUB), BA (Hons) Photography with Video
Sarah Navan, Griffith College Dublin, BA Photographic Media