SOUTH DUBLIN LIVE 2026 - Open for applications
South Dublin Live is a vibrant programme of performances across all art forms, bringing people together in local spaces across South Dublin County to connect through culture and creativity, while providing a platform for artists to present their work. South Dublin Live 2026 is a programme of indoor and outdoor events, taking place between 30th May and 18th September 2026.
Invitation
Proposals for events to be part of the South Dublin Live 2026 programme are now invited from:
- Pofessional performers and producers; (ensembles or individuals) based in South Dublin County
- South Dublin County Cultural Organisations and South Dublin County Community Centres
The deadline for proposals is Thursday 30th April 2026 at 4pm.
We are interested in proposals from artists and producers at all stages of their careers, from emerging to established, living in South Dublin County, showcasing work they have created and/or produced.
Proposals are welcome across all genres of performance, including music, dance, theatre, spectacle, circus, and street arts. From small-scale solo and unplugged performances to larger amplified events, a wide range of formats will be considered. Outdoor performances are particularly encouraged.
All questions on the application process should be directed to: oscannell@sdublincoco.ie
South Dublin Live is a South Dublin County Council Arts Office initiative.
Applications can be made online: Register on SDCC.submit.ie
If already registered you can access the application form at this link: https://submit.link/4OJ
Call for Expressions of Interest — Summer Mural Programme
South Dublin County Council Arts Office and Creative Ireland South Dublin invites artists working in mural and urban arts to submit Expressions of Interest for the commissioning of new mural artworks as part of a summer mural programme.
This initiative aims to animate community spaces, support youth engagement, and create high-quality public artworks that reflect the identity and energy of local communities.
Applicants may be Garda Vetted by South Dublin County Council.
We welcome expressions of interest from artists of diverse backgrounds.
Urban Walls Summer Programme is a community‑centred mural and urban art programme, taking place over the summer of 2026, designed to engage children, young people, and local residents in Quarryvale, Brookfield, and Killinarden. The project will deliver a series of co‑created public artworks in community centres, skate parks, or other local gathering points, promoting creativity, positive youth engagement, and pride of place.
The programme is rooted in collaboration, inclusivity, and cultural expression. It will be delivered in partnership with community organisations, youth groups, and professional artists experienced in participatory practice.
Participation & Co-Creation
A key element of this programme is collaborative working with children/young people /community in each area. Artists must demonstrate experience or interest in:
- Participatory practice
- Youth engagement
- Working sensitively within community contexts
Budget & Timeline
- Completion of murals: Between July and August 2026
- Approximate budgets per artwork will range: €5000 -€15,000 (to include artist fees, materials, access equipment, insurance, workshops, and associated costs, and installation)
New SDCC Public Art Commissions Announced
South Dublin County Council Arts Office is delighted to announce five new Public Art projects commissioned as part of IN CONTEXT 5 Strand 2 following an open call selection process in July 2025. IN CONTEXT 5 - Connect is SDCC’s Public Art Programme 2023–2025 under the Per Cent for Art Scheme.
The successful artists commissioned are: - Shane Finan and Drop Table Ensemble (with Alisha Doody, Dasha Ilina, Living Rhythms, Paul O'Neill, Cían Flynn, and Amy Bunce) - Gráinne O’Carroll and Ghiath Al Jebawi - Katie Watchorn and A.Mac Giolla Bhríde - Denis Connolly and Anne Cleary - Sophie Von Maltzan
The theme for this award is a focus on climate action, environment, tackling the urgency of climate change, and champion sustainability and/or biodiversity in the context of South Dublin County. The projects will take place in the areas of Templeogue/Rathfarnham, North Clondalkin, Knocklyon, Old Bawn, and Killinarden.
They will explore a range of themes with community groups such as the impact of technology and data centres, biodiversity at the River Dodder, food and local planting, the creation of site-specific environmental art, and the development of a mobile garden shed. The projects will be delivered in 2026 with the support of Community and Climate Action Departments.
You can read more about each individual project on the Projects section of the website: In Context 5 Strand 2 Commissions | In Context 5 – Connect
First Music Contact - Regional Development Project
Hello and welcome to the first step in the First Music Contact Regional Development project in partnership with Dublin City Council Arts Office, Fingal County Council Arts Office, and South Dublin County Council Arts Office, https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/V6TZ22H
First Music Contact is the leading national music organisation for resourcing popular musicians and the independent music sector in Ireland. We deliver projects at key stages of an artist’s development, helping them develop real careers. These projects include Breaking Tunes, Ireland Music Week, and Music From Ireland.
This new project aims to develop a way of offering equal access to professional development services to musicians all around Ireland as well as developing a framework for supporting artists at a local level. For this project, we will be working in partnership with the Arts Offices in Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council and South Dublin County Council, to deliver a high level of professional development series to musicians in South Dublin County as well as creating an opportunity for you as the musicians in these areas to give feedback on what local supports you need to develop your professional careers moving forward.
Our aim is to better understand your current needs and aspirations as musicians and ascertain what stage you are at in your career. We will then use this information to inform our own work and to advocate locally and nationally for the things you need to progress your career. We will also use this information to develop a series of professional development workshops on themes nominated by you which you can access for free as part of the upcoming program of activity with your arts office.
This is a musician-first project and we want to find out what you need to get your music career off the ground and/or to take the next step. What are the practical things you need? – and what kind of advice/information would be useful to you? There will be a series of workshops and sessions, delivered online, on May 19th, 20th and 21st, with the second half of the series scheduled for later in June. These workshops will provide practical advice and music industry panels on many of the issues that were raised in the questionnaire. You will have an opportunity to attend these workshops for free and have an input into the process.
It’s your call. Your opportunity to have a say and a hand in shaping what happens next. It begins with this questionnaire which will close on Wednesday May 6th. First off, we’d appreciate about 5 minutes of your time to fill out this questionnaire. [If you’re a band, each member is free to answer the questions – the more the merrier] Please note that all the details provided by you will be treated as confidential and are solely for the purposes of this project. All information will be anonymised and aggregated. No individual submissions will be shared with any third-party. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/V6TZ22H
We will come back to you after we analyse the results of this survey and have designed the professional development panels based on what you’ve asked us for. We will then send links for dates and times for these professional development panels
The Colossus
Augmented Reality. Documentary theatre. Procession.
The Colossus is a socially engaged art project lead by Visual Artist John Conway, with Digital Artist Elaine Hoey and Theatre and Film Artist Shaun Dunne in collaboration with young people from North Clondalkin and mothers who have lost children to suicide
The Colossus was developed as an intergenerational project which creatively engaged young people from North Clondalkin and worked with the testimony of mother’s who have lost children to suicide, presenting a narrative on the context and aftermath of bereavement by suicide in the local area.
The Colossus is experienced as a 9-act audio documentary interspersed with augmented reality sculptures on a self-guided walking route around North Clondalkin. The walk begins and ends at North Clondalkin Library and is approximately 45 minutes duration.
Public viewing Thursday and Saturday throughout April and the beginning of May
Free but tickets – booking via www.thecolossus.ie The Colossus is part of IN CONTEXT 5 – Connect South Dublin County Council's Public art programme under the Per Cent for Art Scheme.
SCENE: South Dublin Creative Economy Network
South Dublin has a vibrant creative economy, from craft and design, artists of all disciplines, musicians, designers - to name just a few areas - and the Local Enterprise Office and its partners are creating this network to support people working in these sectors.
A comprehensive catalogue of support and a broad calendar of events for the members.
Membership is free and you can register at the following link. **Membership is open to businesses trading and located within the South Dublin County Council Administrative area only.
If you work within a creative industry or plan to, please register to become a member so that we can keep in contact with you and let you know what is going on.
Artist Bursary Programme 2026 Now Open
Applications are now open for the South Dublin County Council Artist Bursary Programme 2026, offering a range of funding opportunities to support artists and young musicians. The programme also introduces two new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) bursaries, expanding supports for under-represented artists
Arts Grants and Bursary Awards - SDCC
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