NAVIGATOR Residencies 2025 Expression of Interest Call-Out

IMC are now accepting expressions of interest from Irish-based jazz and improvising musicians for 6 residencies, which will run from April to November 2025.

NAVIGATOR was established by IMC in 2021, and since then twenty-two musicians have enjoyed bespoke residencies across Ireland through venue partners Ballina Arts Centre, The Source Arts Centre, Thurles, An Grianán, Letterkenny, The Courthouse, Tinahely Co. Wicklow, with the addition of Garter Lane, Waterford, and Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge joining the programme in 2023.

The 2025 residencies will each be 8-10 days in length, tbc. There is an artist fee of €250/day. Accommodation and transport for the artist are also covered.

While the priority of the residency programme is to allow musicians the time and space for their own work, some level of local creative engagement and/or performance will be required as part of each residency to make the most of this opportunity to connect with a new place and community. Navigator has also developed parent-friendly residencies at the Courthouse Arts Centre Tinahely, and An Grianan Theatre, Letterkenny - offering supports for artists who need to manage their work as parents alongside their work as artists.

The NAVIGATOR residency programme is part of IMC's commitment to further develop the national scene for jazz and improvised music, improve potential touring mobility, develop audiences nationwide, and develop opportunities and fruitful new relationships for musicians.

The deadline for applying to Navigator 2025 is midnight on the 31st January 2025.

Some notes for artists expressing interest:

• Artists should apply for arts centres that are not in their local county or area. The purpose is to get to know a different location, and build a relationship with a new venue.
• Artists on the programme are selected by the arts centres in collaboration with IMC, based on their own programming interests and context of the arts centre and their local community.
• Eligible musicians should be working in the jazz or creative improvised music sectors on the island of Ireland. Irish artists based elsewhere who still have a significant amount of practice on the island of Ireland may also be eligible, however, international travel costs may not be covered.
• Artists may express their interest in more than one residency, or all residencies. If an arts centre expresses particular interest in your work, you might be asked to consider a residency with an arts centre you have not selected.
• For arts centres where a particular period is specified for the residency, please ensure that you have some weeks of availability in that period.
• The Navigator programme is largely a solo residency, and not suitable for an ensemble in residence. However, there are opportunities to work with local artists in the area, or in some instances to work with other collaborators.
• If your residency includes a performance, there may be a small budget to bring 1-2 colleagues or collaborating musicians for one day, depending on resources.
• For artists with caring responsibilities, some residencies can be arranged to facilitate artists who are parents or carers. The structure of the supports provided will be discussed and agreed at an early stage with the artist, the arts centre, and IMC.

Explore the experiences of some of the previous NAVIGATOR artists;

The Navigator artists-in-residence from each year so far are:

2024: So-Young Yoon, Max Zaska, Eimear Reidy, Sarah Grimes, Eamonn Cagney, Dave Flynn, Sorcha McCague

2023: Matthew Noone, Neil O’Loclainn, Conor McAuley, Cora Venus Lunny, Izumi KImura, Aleka Potinga, Stephen Davis

2022: Emilie Conway, Olesya Zdorovetska, Aengus Hackett, Chris Guilfoyle

2021: Hugh Buckley, Cormac McCarthy, Riona Sally Hartman, Nick Roth

Diversity Policy

We welcome applications from members of the LGBTQ+ communities, all POC and people of any and all ethnic backgrounds, and members of the Irish Traveller community.

If you have an additional access needs and require assistance in applying, or if you have any other queries, please email admin@improvisedmusic.ie