Island Connect II (2023 - 2026)

Island Connect II is a broad transnational cooperation project. The goal of the project is to mobilise the vast potential of the European island landscape to function as a setting for artistic excellence and innovation. This will have tangible benefits for the European artistic community, the European island territories, and Europe as a whole.

The project addresses the precarious situation of the European islands and island communities, as anchored in in the Treaty of Amsterdam, Article 174, though implementing an innovative scheme of transnational artistic mobilities in the format of artistic residencies.

Over the period of three years (2023 - 2025) the project will implement over 90 artistic exchanges of 140 participating European performing artists from European island territories.

A novel segment of the artistic residencies, the Islander Focus residencies, will be dedicated specifically to extending the opportunities to participate in the project to artists from European and global island territories which are not linked directly to the project consortium. This project goal is to connect in the project all 16 European insular countries and 3 non-European territories.

• The residencies will take place across seven islands (Bornholm – Denmark, Vis – Croatia, Ireland, Mallorca, Corsica, Sardinia, or Tenerife) at different times throughout 2024-2026. The next call for Irish artists will be in 2025 and 2026.
• The length of the residencies will be two weeks with a work-in-progress presentation of the work by the end of the term.
• The residencies provide and ensure both working and living conditions which include: working venue/space and basic technical conditions at a selected island community, paid pre-arranged accommodation (twin rooms), local and international travel expenses to residency and capacity building locations, travel expenses to the residency, per diems, and fee.
• Local partners of the Island Connect network may organise presentations of finished works of selected artistic companies.

Irish Partner

Irish Aerial Creation Centre is based in Old Burlington Industrial Estate, Gillogue, Corbally, Limerick. It's the first and only purpose-built aerial dance centre anywhere in Ireland. Professional development is supported by the Irish Art Council’s grant through residencies, classes, workshops and performance opportunities. IACC houses the first intensive professional programme for aerialists in the country and is a home for creativity in aerial circus on an international scale. IACC is also partners with Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, offering the only aerial dance courses to third level students in Ireland.

Further Information

• Island Connect Website