Exhibiting at Siamsa Tire

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Showcasing the work of exciting artists is something we delight in here at Siamsa Tíre.
From the month of October through to the end of April, our gallery hosts work by renowned local, national, and international artists.

Things change during the annual Festival of Folk which runs from May to September. During the festival, we host exhibitions that examine the history of the National Folk Theatre or installations that reflect on the history of folk theatre in Ireland.

Since 2017, we have run a Visual Artist in Residence programme during the three months of summer. The work created by our last artist in residence in 2019 was called A Question of Degree: Coastal Communities and Climate Change and it examined the threat of climate change here in Kerry.

The artists who exhibit here are given supports that include material grants, research programmes, residencies, and artists’ fees.

So, what type of artists are we looking for?

We love to support local artists. We have a particular interest in the resonance between folk culture and contemporary visual art. This means that we give priority to professional artists who have a specific interst in making work locally as well as work that explores folk culture.

Our annual Visual Arts Programme includes initiatives curated by Siamsa Tíre, projects coordinated by invited curators, and proposals selected from submissions made by artists or artists’ groups.

We are also conscious of limiting the impact of our activities on the environment, especially in relation to climate change and our carbon footprint. This is why we set up our Greening Siamsa initiative in 2017, which has resulted in us reducing our carbon footprint by 40% do date. It’s also why we welcome submissions from artists whose work addresses issues such as climate change, biodiversity, and the Anthropocene.

If any of this sounds like you, why not consider applying to exhibit here at Siamsa Tíre?

We currently operate an Open Submission policy, which accepts applications from artists who are keen to exhibit. Applications are encouraged from emerging, mid-career, and established professional artists who are local or who wish to engage and work locally. Priority will be given to those that meet our programming policy criteria.

We are also open to group submissions and are happy to discuss ideas with artists who wish to curate a series of exhibitions that meet with our priorities.

Here’s How You Do It:

Send a proposal outlining your project to the Selection Panel along with brief costings, your CV, and examples of previous work. Electronic submissions are acceptable as are postal applications, with links provided where appropriate.

Proposals are considered annually in December and any submissions will be responded to before the end of January in the following year.

For further information or to submit a proposal, please contact Róisín McGarr, Executive Director by email at executivedirector@siamsatire.com or at our postal address, Siamsa Tíre, Town Park, Tralee, County Kerry.

Please note: very large files will not make it past our server. Artists submitting proposals which include large files should contact us in advance at the above email address or follow an introductory email with a WeTransfer/Dropbox file.