Open Call: Bealtaine Flagship Festival 2027 seeks Community Curator (Performing Arts)

Age and Opportunity works with a broad spectrum of groups to create the most inclusive Bealtaine Festival possible. These groups include independent curators, other arts organisations, and specialist groups such as Age and Opportunity's Arts Advisory Group as well as targeted focus groups of people who are aged 50 or older.

In 2026, we piloted the first Community Curator (formerly called Citizen Curator) initiative which aimed to create an even more inclusive Festival. In 2027, as the flagship festival moves to Clare, we wish to invite interested members of the public/Bealtaine audience to apply for the voluntary role of Community Curator, who will work closely with our Performing Arts Curator for the Bealtaine 2027 flagship festival in Ennis, Co. Clare. As the festival is taking place in Ennis, we would particularly welcome applications from people living in Clare and the surrounding region.

This Community Curator will feed into the performing arts strand of the festival. The role is also an opportunity to develop programming skills and to see first-hand how a professional festival programme comes together. The Community Curator will be working under the guidance of the Performing Arts Curator and Festival Director.

Please note that the Community Curator is a voluntary role. The planning meetings will be mostly online. Where an in-person meeting is proposed, travel and subsistence expenses will be covered within a defined budget. Support is available for anyone less familiar with online meetings.

Testimonials from 2026

“Taking on the role of citizen curator was a very rewarding experience. It combined enjoyment and learning. It gave me confidence to approach people whom I would have been shy of before, and taught me a lot about the practicalities of organising an arts event. I was never on my own and was so well supported throughout the process.”

"To anyone who is thinking about applying in 2027, just do it: dive in and be as creative as you can be. It was fun to just go for it and then be reined in to the doable. Thanks for the opportunity to “play” and create a fun event.”

"I loved the fact that our expertise and experience was valued by the Bealtaine team and, on the way, I learned a few things.
If you're thinking of applying to become a citizen curator next year - Do!
It's a great way to get involved with the Bealtaine team and I personally learned a lot."

Bealtaine Community (formerly Citizen) Curators, 2026

Deadline

Those interested should fill out the application form before the deadline of 12 noon, 23rd October 2026.

Contact details

If you would prefer to apply by phone, or need the form in another format, please get in touch.

Any queries can be directed to:

Rachel Macmanus
Public Arts Coordinator,
Clare Arts Office

T: (065) 6866921 | E: rmacmanus@clarecoco.ie