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Artists’

Professional

Development

Training

Home » Arts » Artists’ Professional Development Training

What is Artists’ Professional Development Training?

We support and celebrate artists by providing continuing professional development and training in both the practical areas of their career (i.e. finance/pensions etc.) and by exploring more in-depth issues to do with visibility, networking and staying professionally connected.

Sustaining your Practice is developed with Visual Artists Ireland and the Royal Hibernian Academy to bring together older visual artists in order to support their practices and livelihoods.

prime continuing professional development programme for actors aged 50 – 80 years old is delivered in partnership between Age & Opportunity/Bealtaine Festival and the Irish Theatre Institute, focusing on career sustainability, entrepreneurial skill development and physical and mental health and well-being, aiming to increase capacity into older age.

The Floor is Yours! is a networking event for dance artists, companies and organisations working with older people, which aims to strengthen and provide visibility for the sector. The event offers workshops, discussions and presentations from those working in the field nationally and internationally. Presented with Dance Ireland and in consultation with Dance Theatre of Ireland.

Experience: An Introduction to Arts, Health and the Older Person, is an online learning programme developed by Age & Opportunity, Waterford Healing Arts Trust and Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre. The programme aims to outline the essential elements involved in working with older people in an arts and health and/or community context. Read Helen Meany’s response to the 2022 programme here.

How does it work?

Each year, we work with organisations such as Visual Artists Ireland, Dance Ireland and the Irish Theatre Institute to support older artists in the development of their careers.

How can I get involved?

Booking for many of our professional development events is through Eventbrite. To keep up to date on training, networking, and all our opportunities, sign up to our newsletter at the link in the footer. For specific initiatives such as prime, click here.

Contact

For information or support, speak to our Arts team.
 01 805 7713
 arts@ageandopportunity.ie

ARTIST DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES: This strand aims to support the careers of older professional artists and offer them more opportunities to develop and show work.

Arts Initiatives:

Bealtaine Festival

A month long festival in May featuring performances, exhibitions, discussions, workshops and readings by artists, and community groups, working in different art forms all over Ireland. Find out more here.

The Gathering

An event bringing together our local and national Bealtaine Festival partners for a day of networking, inspiration, discussion and feedback on the festival. Find out more.

Cultural Companions

Creates local networks of like-minded people interested in arts and culture who can accompany each other to cultural events. Find out more.

Focus Groups

We are working with a number of groups to ensure our work is collaborative and inclusive. Find out more here.

Artists’ Professional Development Training

Providing continuing professional development and training for artists’. Find out more.

Artists' Residencies

This opportunity creates access to the arts for older people in care settings as well as supporting artists working in care settings. Find out more here.

Supporting Networks and Best Practice

This initiative aims to support organisations and artists who work with older people and to promote best practice. Find out more.

Access

We are working to ensure our events and initiatives, and those outside the organisation, are as accessible as possible. Find out more.

Azure

Azure explores how people with dementia-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s, and the people who care for them, can have a deeper involvement in cultural institutions and can participate in cultural activities. Find out more.

Creative Exchanges

Training course for participants to plan and facilitate arts activities for older people in care settings. Find out more here.

Creative supports for Care Homes

We are developing creative supports for care settings in order to ensure easier access to the arts for the residents and visitors of those settings. Find out more.

Arts and Creative Charter for Older People

Our charter aims to raise the standard of arts practice in relation to older people and to create confidence in relation to participating in the arts. Find out more.

Research

We are working to ensure our programmes and initiatives are informed and driven by best practice Find out more.

Arts Initiatives:

Access

We are working to ensure our events and initiatives, and those outside the organisation, are as accessible as possible. Find out more.

Bealtaine Festival

A month long festival in May featuring performances, exhibitions, discussions, workshops and readings by artists, and community groups, working in different art forms all over Ireland. Find out more here.

Artists' Residencies

This opportunity creates access to the arts for older people in care settings as well as supporting artists working in care settings. Find out more here.

Creative Exchanges

Training Course for participants to plan and facilitate arts activities for older people in care settings. Find out more here

Cultural Companions

Creates local networks of like-minded people interested in arts and culture who can accompany each other to cultural events. Find out more.

Azure

Azure explores how people with dementia-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s, and the people who care for them, can have a deeper involvement in cultural institutions and can participate in cultural activities. Find out more.

The Gathering

An event bringing together our local and national Bealtaine Festival partners for a day of networking, inspiration, discussion and feedback on the festival. Find out more here. Find out more.

Focus Groups

We are working with a number of groups to ensure our work is collaborative and inclusive. Find out more here.

Artists’ Professional Development Training

Providing continuing professional development and training for artists’. Find out more.

Supporting Networks and Best Practice

This initiative aims to support organisations and artists who work with older people and to promote best practice. Find out more.

Creative supports for Care Homes

We are developing creative supports for care settings in order to ensure easier access to the arts for the residents and visitors of those settings. Find out more.

Arts and Creative Charter for Older People

Our charter aims to raise the standard of arts practice in relation to older people and to create confidence in relation to participating in the arts. Find out more.

Research

We are working to ensure our programmes and initiatives are informed and driven by best practice Find out more.

We believe that, whether you are 8 or 80 years old, we all should have access and opportunities to attend and participate in the arts and to realise our creative potential. Fresh thinking, bold experimentation and creativity are all fundamental to delivering a high quality of life for older people.

Research shows that arts programmes involving music, visual arts and drama, among other activities, have a profound influence on the quality of life of older people, with positive impacts on health, psychological well-being, confidence and autonomy as well as other benefits such as:

  • happiness
  • mental wellbeing
  • reduced stress
  • improved cognition
  • sense of identity and personhood
  • increased self-esteem and confidence
  • reduced boredom.

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Principal Funders:

Link to HSE website Link to Sport Ireland website Link to Arts Council website

Our Principal Funders:

Link to HSE websiteLink to Sport Ireland websiteLink to Arts Council website