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Bealtaine Background

Bealtaine is Ireland’s national festival celebrating the arts and creativity as we age. The festival is run by Age & Opportunity, a national organisation that promotes active and engaged living as we get older. Bealtaine, which will be 31 years old in 2027, takes place each May, and is one of Ireland’s largest festivals. The festival is increasingly recognised as a major innovator in the areas of the arts, creativity and older people globally, and has inspired a number of international festivals (Luminate in Scotland, Gwanwyn in Wales, The Age of Creativity in England, ARMAS in Finland and others).

Every year, Bealtaine partners with community and voluntary organisations, as well as arts offices and local authorities from around the country in showcasing and developing inspiring projects that celebrate creativity in older age.

For the first time in its history the Bealtaine Flagship Festival 2027 will take place outside of Dublin. Clare Arts Office are delighted to have been chosen to host the festival in Ennis and are excited to announce this open call for a new musical work for the Bealtaine Flagship Festival 2027.

About this Commission

To celebrate this ground breaking partnership and in recognition of Clare’s long standing association with all forms and types of music, Clare Arts Office in partnership with Bealtaine Flagship Festival 2027 are excited to announce a music commission, responding to the Bealtaine Flagship Festival 2027 theme Brewing up a Storm.

This exciting opportunity will provide a grant of €15,000 to enable a musician or musical collective to devote time and space to the creation of a new work and to facilitate new creative partnerships.

Professional musicians who are Clare based / living in Clare, aged 50+, with a strong track record in music performance are invited to apply. Musicians working across all genres of music may apply.

The commission will also culminate in a significant public sharing of the work for the Bealtaine Flagship Festival 2027 which takes place in Ennis from May 20^th – 22^nd, 2027.

Commission Theme

From 2023 to 2026 Bealtaine adopted the theme of Lust for Life as a broad and multi-layered festival theme.

The theme of the Bealtaine Flagship Festival 2027 is Brewing Up a Storm, suggesting a dynamic collaborative partnership full of promise and new ideas, in line with Bealtaine’s first time moving its Flagship Festival outside of Dublin.

Brewing Up a Storm brings County Clare and Bealtaine Festival together, promising all the diversity and dynamism associated with the Bealtaine Festival combined with the rich cultural heritage and embedded creative landscape of County Clare.

We invite applicants to interpret our theme through their chosen musical genre, arrangement and style. We are seeking proposals across all musical genres and styles: orchestral, traditional, contemporary, choral, electronic, cross-genre. We encourage applicants to respond to our theme Brewing Up a Storm and to propose a piece that is audacious and bold.

Whether used as a metaphor for emotional upheaval or simply as a backdrop for dramatic moments, storms can amplify the intensity of a scene and sometimes have negative connotations and cause damage. Storms, however, can also help clear the air, remove tension and bring clarity to situations. The act of brewing connotates an act of preparation, waiting and anticipation. Brewing is often associated with food and drink, which in turn implies hospitality and welcome.

Other interpretations of the theme are also welcome. We are looking for originality, feasibility and alignment with the theme. In particular we welcome bold, boundary – pushing ideas.

Eligibility & Selection Criteria

In keeping with Bealtaine Flagship Festival 2027 guidelines, individual musicians and musical collectives who are over the age of 50 with a strong track record in music performance, and who are Clare based/ currently living in Clare are invited to apply.

Applications are welcome from musicians performing in a range of genres either as solo artists or on behalf of existing groups or new collaborations. Cross-genre and cross-art form collaborations (with music as a core element) are also welcome.

Budget:

The commissioning budget is €15,000. The commissioning budget must include: all artist fees, design development, technician fees, artist insurances (public liability & where appropriate contractor) travel, certifications and training, health and safety costs, VAT, and all other expenses and charges.

The €15,000 bursary should cover, but is not limited to:

• All artist fees of selected artist(s)
• Any costs associated with the creation of the piece (materials/equipment/space rental/support artist fees etc)
• Bealtaine performance fee for awarded artist(s)

Please Note:

• Production costs associated with the presentation of the final piece are not included in the bursary and will be provided as part of the Bealtaine flagship festival (in discussion with the festival team and presenting venue).
• The total award including commission fee, travel, VAT is €15,000. Upon award of the commission the artist will receive €10,000. The remaining €5000 will be paid upon receipt of the commission.

Requirements

It is a requirement of this commission that a significant outcome/event/exhibition should also take place at the end of the commission on one of the below dates in Ennis, Co Clare (venue to be confirmed) as part of Bealtaine Flagship Festival 2027.

• May 20th 2027
• May 21st 2027
• May 22nd 2027

The commissioning partners will assist with identifying communities and venues for exhibitions/outcomes.

Submissions

Submissions can be made here or see the QR code and link at the top of this page.

They should comprise of a maximum 2 page proposal outlining

1. ideas and concepts for the commission
2. any known supports that will be required for the delivery of the project.
3. estimated timescale (must be completed by May 2027) and any time or practical constraints that may impact on the project

You must also submit:

• Budget breakdown of all costs
• An up-to-date CV (no more than 3 pages)
• Portfolio of up to 5 past works (scores, recordings)
• Details of any other musicians or parties who will have an interest in or will constitute part of the delivery of the work.

Selection

The selection panel, whose decision is final, has the right to clarify any issues that may arise in the course of selection. Artists or teams may be asked to supply the names and contact details of referees as part of the selection process. The selection panel will include representatives from: Bealtaine’s curatorial team, Clare Arts Office and independent arts or music professionals.

Criteria

The commission will be awarded based on the following:

• Overall quality of the proposal (25 marks)
• Relevance to the Bealtaine Flagship Festival 2027 theme Brewing Up A Storm (15 marks)
• Relevance to County Clare and demonstrated potential benefit to the community (15 marks)
• Benefit to the artist (15 marks)
• Track record of the artist (15 marks)
• Feasibility within the budget and timeframe (15 marks)

Contracts

The contract for this project will be between Age & Opportunity and the successful artist(s). Any sub-contractors, suppliers, other interested and engaged parties will be the legal and financial responsibility of the artist. The contract will clearly state the ownership of the work being with the artist. Rights to exhibit and show the commissioned work will remain with the co-commissioners with the prior arrangement with the artist.

Payment

Payment will ideally be made in two instalments (upon commissioning and upon commission delivery). Should a different payment schedule fit the needs of a selected commission, this can be reviewed on a case-by case basis. Payments will be made by Age and Opportunity. The artist will need to provide a relevant tax clearance certificate.

Funders

Bealtaine is an Age & Opportunity initiative funded by the Arts Council of Ireland and the Health Service Executive. This commission is co-funded by Clare County Council through the Per Cent for Arts Scheme and by Bealtaine.

Timeline

• Publication of Artist Open call: 23 July 2026
• Info Clinic: 1st Week in September
• Deadline to submit: October 2nd, 2026
• Announcement of successful artist(s)by: October 30th
• Duration to complete commission: 6 months

Submission Contact & Support

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is Friday October 2^nd, 2026 at 4pm.

For support and information please contact Rachel Macmanus, Public Art Coordinator, Clare Arts, at rmacmanus@clarecoco.ie and 065 6866921

FAQ or info session details. Clare Arts will run an online information session on (1^st Week of September) date TBC for ZOOM or MSTeams meeting

Further Information

Bealtaine Festival and Age & Opportunity

Age & Opportunity Arts also aim to:

Bealtaine is Ireland’s national festival celebrating the arts and ageing. The festival is run by Age & Opportunity, the national organisation working to enhance wellbeing for older people through participation in sport and physical activity, arts and creative engagement, personal development, community collaboration and active citizenship.

Age & Opportunity Arts is a dedicated programme which supports the participation and representation of all older people in cultural and creative life in Ireland. They do this work by supporting and resourcing artists, arts audiences and arts organisations and encouraging involvement in arts activities by people all over Ireland. They also aim to raise the standard, knowledge-base and visibility of the arts and older people sector.

• encourage more older people to participate in the arts and to increase the quality and opportunities of existing participants;
• support the careers of older professional artists and offer them more opportunities to develop and show work;
• support arts organisations who prioritise (or wish to prioritise) older people;
• provide opportunities for intergenerational exchange;
• generate debate and discourse around key cultural issues impacting on older people and other opportunities to influence national and international policy.

Diversity and Inclusion: The Bealtaine Festival, an Age & Opportunity Arts initiative, is dedicated to celebrating the arts and creativity as we age. It is funded by the Arts Council and the HSE, aiming to foster a community that shares valuable information, opportunities and resources. The festival celebrates over 30 years of annual events and welcomes various artists and projects to showcase their work. The initiative also connects artists who work with older people, creating a space for mutual support and collaboration.

Clare Arts Office

The vision of Clare Arts Office is that through the creativity inherent in County Clare, every person will fully realise their own creative potential and the value of the arts in society.

Our mission is to enable the further development of the arts in Clare by

• Providing Open and Accessible Opportunities for All

• Offering Strategic Supports to Artists

• Fostering continued appreciation and development of the arts

Creativity is at the heart of Clare Arts Office. The team shares, in the simplest and fairest ways, the following values:

1. curiosity of ideas, both ours and others, that promotes standards of excellence amongst artists, communities and our team
2. the sharing of skills and experience to further develop knowledge and learning in the county
3. commitment to providing inclusive and diverse programmes ensuring dignity, kindness and respect
4. a commitment to collaboration within Clare County Council, with communities and with artists that brings ambition and optimism in delivering and realizing creative projects