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.
How does it work?
Each year, we work with organisations such as Réalta and the Royal Hibernian Academy 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.
Current Professional Development Initiatives
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.
Experience: An Introduction to Arts, Health and the Older Person
Partnering with Réalta, national resource organisation for arts and health in Ireland, Age & Opportunity delivers an annual event aimed at professional artists seeking an introduction to working with older people. The programme aims to outline the essential elements involved in working with older people in an arts and health and/or community context.
This programme acts as a natural first step towards Age & Opportunity’s more intensive programme, the Artists Care Exchange.
Past Professional Development Initiatives
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.
Contact
For information or support, speak to our Arts team.
01 9133921
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 collaborative festival in May featuring performances, exhibitions, discussions, workshops and readings by artists working in different art forms all over Ireland. Find out more here.
Cultural Companions
Works with the local authorities to create local networks of like-minded people interested in arts and culture who can accompany each other to cultural events. Find out more.
Artists' Supports
Age & Opportunity runs a number of initiatives that support artists. Find out more.
National Arts in Nursing Homes Day
A day that celebrates the creative activity taking place in Irish care settings. Find out more.
Supports for Care Settings
We have a range of creative supports for care settings. Find out more.
Supports for Arts Organisations
Age & Opportunity supports arts organisations through a number of initiatives. Find out more here.
Arts and Creative Charter
The Charter is a set of eight commitments to older arts participants, audiences and artists in Ireland Find out more.
Arts Resources
We have a variety of resources available here.
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.
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.
National Arts in Nursing Homes Day
A day that celebrates the creative activity taking place in Irish care settings. Find out more.
Artists' Supports
Age & Opportunity runs a number of initiatives that support artists. Find out more.
Supports for Arts Organisations
Age & Opportunity supports arts organisations through a number of initiatives. Find out more here.
Supports for Care Settings
We have a range of creative supports for care settings. Find out more.
Arts Resources
We have a variety of Arts Resources available here.
Arts and Creative Charter
The Charter is a set of eight commitments to older arts participants, audiences and artists in Ireland 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.
