Farm Walks Proposals
Information Session
16 May 2025
Following the Open Call for Artists and the Farm Visits for Artists, the Farm Walks partnership is now accepting proposals for residencies at six farms in Leitrim and Fermanagh.
The Farm Walks project was co-created by The Dock in partnership with Leitrim County Council Arts Office, The Leitrim Sustainable Agriculture Group and the Ulster Wildlife Farmers’ Group in Fermanagh, funded through the Creative Ireland Shared Island Programme. Through the project, the partners aim to build cross-border cooperation, to explore the common ground between farmers and artists, and to highlight shared farming and environmental interests.
Context & background
In 2024, the partners delivered six creative Farm Walks (three in Leitrim and three in Fermanagh) which featured a tour of each farm and a talk by an invited artist whose work resonated with that farm, its creative potential, heritage or other special characteristics. While this demonstrated the shared interests of artists and farmers, Phase II of the project in 2025, which is split into two parts, will provide the opportunity for artists and farmers to work together for longer periods on projects of shared interest. Both artists and farmers are paid for their time, and the partners will support the artists and farmers to bring ideas to fruition.
Phase II
The first part of Phase II lasts for ten days. This can be taken in one block or spread out over two months, to be agreed between the selected artist and farmer. There are no preconditions on what this part might consist of, and it is not obligatory to have produced anything by the end of it – although a small materials budget is available, if required. The first part is perhaps best described as action-research. For some artists and farmers, this 10-day residency might be the right length to explore what they want to do together, but partnerships that discover valuable common interests and further potential for collaboration can request to extend by a further 20 days over the next four months.
Artists and farmers moving into the second part must articulate their shared understandings and ambition for what they would like to achieve together – they will submit a joint proposal. While the first part was action-research, this second part is more focused and should anticipate definite outcomes or planning towards definite outcomes.
Submissions
Artists who joined the Open Call for Artists will receive the application pack by email and an invitation to an Information Session covering dates, fees, budget, access, travel, accommodation, insurance, health & safety, selection process and the submission link.
