VISUAL and Carlow Arts Office are pleased to announce a new open call for exhibition proposals, which will result in a new project at VISUAL in 2027.

This major collaboration between VISUAL and Carlow Arts Office continues our essential partnership, and marks 40 years of county arts officers supporting artists across Ireland.

The winning application will be given time and resources to realise an ambitious exhibition in September 2027, and will benefit from curatorial, production, technical and marketing support, as well as a significant production budget. The successful application will receive an artist's fee, and shortlisted proposals will receive a fee to expand proposals for further consideration where necessary.

All correctly submitted entries will be considered by a panel made up of: Aileen Nolan, Carlow County Arts Officer; Aisling Prior, independent curator; Benjamin Stafford, Visual Arts Curator, VISUAL; artist Daphne Wright, and Sepake Angiama, Artistic Director of the Institute of International Visual Arts.

This call is open to artists of all career stages, working in any media locally, in Ireland, or internationally.

How to Apply

Submissions are now open, and will close on Friday 22 May 2026 at 5pm GMT. Submissions can be made in writing, video, or audio format. All submissions should include the following:

Examples of work

These can be up to 10 images, texts, audio or moving image samples. They can be submitted in a PDF or as individual attachments, or via a reliable filesharing service such as WeTransfer or hosting service such as Dropbox. Please ensure all download links remain valid for a minimum of 3 days after submitting and that hosting links remain valid through June 2026.

An outline of your proposal

This can be written or recorded as audio/video. For initial submissions these should not exceed 500 words or 3 minutes. Up to 10 sketches, renderings or other supplementary material should be included as images.

Artist information

CV and/or artist biography, and/or link to your website. Please ensure up to date contact details are included in your submission.

All submissions must be sent to opencall@visualcarlow.ie

If you require any access support in making an application, please contact opencall@visualcarlow.ie

Timeline

Submission deadline: Friday 22 May 2026, 5pm GMT

Submissions will be reviewed and shortlisted applicants informed by the end of June 2026.

Shortlist applicants will have the opportunity to submit expanded proposals by the end of August 2026. Individual feedback for the shortlist will be available at this point, to facilitate further work on proposals.

A winning proposal will be selected and announced in September 2026.

The project will be realised in September 2027.

Budget and fees

There is no submission fee to apply.

Shortlisted artists may be paid a fee where applicable to expand their proposal.

The successful application will receive a generous artist fee and production budget. The allocation of this budget will be agreed between all parties prior to work beginning.

About VISUAL

You can learn more about VISUAL here: About VISUAL

Plans of the gallery spaces can be found here: VISUAL's Galleries

About Carlow Arts Office

Since 1999 Carlow’s Arts Office has served as a cornerstone for artistic and cultural development in the County, providing a range of services that help develop, sustain, and promote the arts in our region. Every year we support artists, arts organisations and communities engage in the arts, to develop skills and make new work, often in response to or in the context of their lives, places, or situations, and to share it with audiences.

The comprehensive range of services provided by the Arts Office underscores its multifaceted role. These include vital funding schemes, innovative participatory programmes, partnering with collaborators to deliver impactful place-making activities and pioneering eco-based initiatives, arts for health programmes, dynamic artist in residence schemes, and robust community arts initiatives. This broad engagement reflects a commitment to enriching and contributing to the cultural, economic, and social fabric of the county.

Arts and Culture | Carlow Co Co

FAQs

Who can apply?

This open call is open to professional visual artists working in any media, in any location, at any career stage. When considering your application, bear in mind that VISUAL is a large, multipurpose arts venue, with four distinct gallery spaces. Other exhibitions may be on at the same time as the open call project, and the venue hosts a diverse audience and a busy programme of tours, group activities and more.

What gallery space is available for the proposed exhibition?

VISUAL has four different gallery spaces; Main, Link, Studio and Digital galleries. Any or all of them can be proposed as the site of a work, or a suitable space can be identified in consultation with VISUAL's team.

Can I apply as part of a duo or group?

Submissions from duos and groups are welcome, but note the fee and budget will remain unchanged, and must be divided in a manner agreed with all parties.

Can I submit existing work?

This open call is for the commission of a newly conceived or unrealised project only.

What happens to the work after the exhibition?

VISUAL is not a collecting institution and does not have an acquisitions budget. Following the exhibition, the work will be returned to the artist or another agreed venue or party, or reused or repurposed where applicable, in line with our sustainability policy.

What practical supports are there?

The successful applicant will have access to support from VISUAL and other stakeholders where needed. Curatorial and production staff will work closely with the artist/s to develop and realise work and can act as liaison with specialist fabricators, art transporters, and other contributors. An essential part of the project will be engaging with learning and engagement curators and other staff to develop a responsive programme around the exhibition.

For further information or to discuss any aspect of the open call, contact opencall@visualcarlow.ie

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