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RADAR: Research and Development Artist Residency

Started: July 2022.
What: RADAR is a new two-year-long residency programme for recent graduates of any Photography degree on the island of Ireland, from Diploma to Masters.
When: Graduates are invited to apply towards the end of the academic year. Selections are made in early summer and the residency runs for two years. 
Where: At The Library Project and other locations.
Why: The programme is aimed at providing adequate national and international opportunities for artists in order to engage with the broad arts context and consolidate their practice.

RADAR: Research and Development Artist Residency is a new two-year-long residency programme for recent graduates of any Photography degree on the island of Ireland, from Diploma to Masters. The programme is aimed at providing adequate national and international opportunities for artists in order to engage with the broad 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 Library Project, with access to the PhotoIreland Collection of photobooks and scanning facilities. In addition, participants will benefit from a selection of opportunities presented by PhotoIreland’s Creative Europe networks as well as key events in 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 artform’s arena.

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

• PhotoIreland’s Professional Development Programme focusing 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
• Feature on wiki.photoireland.org
• Creation of online portfolio website
• Research space in Dublin at The Library Project
• Access to the PhotoIreland Collection of photobooks
• Access to Darkroom and film scanning facilities
• Week-long production-focused residency in Wexford
• 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 during January, all the Diploma, BA and Master programmes nationwide are informed about the call for RADAR, requesting tutors to prepare a list of up to five artists per programme to be considered 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

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