Kids’ Own is seeking applications from artists and writers to join a panel to work on collaborative book projects.

Are you an artist or writer with a strong professional practice who is interested in exploring collaborative ways of working with children and young people? Would you like join a panel of experts who will lead on developing new publications for Kids’ Own with groups of children and young people?

Kids’ Own is a national children’s arts organisation and publishing house, based in Sligo. Established in 1997, Kids’ Own holds an important position within the arts and education sector in Ireland. Kids’ Own is driven by a passionate belief in the intrinsic value of the arts in children’s lives; as a source of joy, fulfilment and connection. Our ethos is rooted in professional arts practice and we produce professionally published outputs (in print and online) that elevate the status of children’s voices and artwork and bring these to a wider audience. With a strong social justice agenda, we support children of all backgrounds and abilities to be seen and heard in our society.

We are now seeking eight professional artists and writers (four artists and four writers) to join our panel specifically for collaborative book-making and publishing projects with children and young people. Having developed an approach to collaborative publishing with children and young people over two decades, we are inviting applications from people who would like to participate in a unique two-day training programme and subsequently be part of a panel, from which artist–teacher pairs will be selected to work on future projects.

Successful applicants must be available for training on the 22nd and 23rd of July 2021. Training will take place in the Northwest (Sligo or Leitrim). Travel and overnight costs for participants will be covered by Kids’ Own.

We are delighted to invite applications from all over the island of Ireland, and especially welcome applications from diverse communities that are reflective of the communities of children we work with, and of artistic and cultural life in Ireland. This includes, but is not limited to, artists and writers from Traveller and Roma communities, from migrant and refugee backgrounds, the LGBTQIA+ community, those with disabilities, and those experiencing racism or any other forms of social disadvantage. We are looking for artists and writers who have an interest in and commitment to working with children and young people collaboratively and democratically, and who also have experience in collaborating with other artists and writers.

To apply:

Please send a detailed CV and a letter of interest, outlining:

• Details of your professional practice (you may include links to your work online or samples of your work: 1 written extract or up to 5 images)
• Your interest in this opportunity; why it is of value to you and how it will enhance your practice.
• Any previous experience of working with children and young people.
• Your ethos/approach to working collaboratively with children and in partnership with another artist/writer.
• Confirmation that you are available to participate in training on the 22nd and 23rd July.

Applications must be sent to [email protected] by the 21st of June at 5pm.

Additional information : Kids’ Own pays artists and writers a rate of €250 per day for work on our projects. There will be set preparation time for book projects paid at the same daily rate. This varies from project to project.

Being accepted to the Kids’ Own panel of artists and writers is not a guarantee of a set amount of work. We contact artists and writers on a project by project basis and cannot guarantee when work on book projects will be available.