Participate in the Arts Trail at Clifden Arts Festival.
OPEN-CALL EXHIBITION APPLICATION
The deadline for receipt of applications is 5 pm on 8th May 2025.
Late or incomplete applications cannot be considered.
Application format: Please send ONE PDF with all of the questions below answered (from 1. – 9.)
Application file name: Please include your name and medium in the file title of your proposal PDF, eg Janesmithpainter.pdf
Send application to : artstrail@clifdenartsfestival.ie
Application guidelines:
Clifden Arts Festival 2025 (17th to 28th September) is delighted to invite artists to make an application for entry to our long-running and much-anticipated Arts Trail. The Arts Trail takes place in the street-facing windows of many of our local businesses for the duration of the Arts Festival. It forms a cornerstone of our Visual Arts programme, is a visitor and local favourite and provides artists with a 24-hour, 10-day exhibition to a wide public audience. Places are limited, and entry is free. The size of the submission is standardised to 60 x 60cm framed maximum. Oversized work will be declined, and only one piece per window will be accepted. Sculptural and digital work accepted. AI-assisted work must be labelled as such.
This year’s exhibition will be curated by Just a Collective – a group of eight Connemara creatives who organise workshops, markets and other events to foster community engagement through art. Artists will receive details of their allocated window, along with contact information for the business to arrange the setup. Please note that to be considered for the festival, you must be available to deliver your artwork around September 15th, 2025. Please note that artists who already have an exhibition during the festival cannot also be included in the Arts Trail; the Festival aims to exhibit as many artists as possible. Sales made through the Arts Trail Exhibition will be subject to 20% commission payable to Clifden Arts Festival.
Please provide all of the below details for your application to be considered :
- Name of artist
- Phone number
- Artist Social media accounts/website
- Description of art work including title and measurements (Please describe your art piece in terms of its theme and background, any methods orprocesses you used that are important to the work, your inspiration for making the work, what story your work tells, who you hope your work speaks to or any other details about your art piece you feel are important for the panel to know. approximately 250 words max)
- Price of artwork (if for sale)
- Images of work (maximum of 5 images of your work)
- Artist Statement (approx 150 words)
- Assurance that you are available to deliver and pick up your art piece a few days before and after the festival
Click here for a downloadable version of this form
