Exhibiting at Siamsa Tire

Showcasing the work of exciting artists is something we delight in here at Siamsa Tíre all year round. Our gallery hosts work by renowned local, national, and international artists and we provide opportunities to engage with our artists.

We work closely with visual artists living and working in Ireland to exhibit their works in our bright and spacious galleries.

Since 2017, we ran a Visual Artist in Residence programme during the three months of summer. The work created by our last artist in residence in 2019 was called A Question of Degree: Coastal Communities and Climate Change and it examined the threat of climate change here in Kerry.

The artists who exhibit here are given supports that include material grants, research programmes, residencies, and artists’ fees.

So, what type of artists are we looking for?

We love to support local artists and international artists who chose to live and work in Ireland. We have a particular interest in the resonance between folk culture and contemporary visual art. This means that we give priority to professional artists who have a specific interst in making work locally as well as work that explores folk culture.

Our annual Visual Arts Programme includes initiatives curated by Siamsa Tíre, projects coordinated by invited curators, and proposals selected from submissions made by artists or artists’ groups. We also support our local secondary and third level institutions arts programmes.

We are also conscious of limiting the impact of our activities on the environment, especially in relation to climate change and our carbon footprint. This is why we set up our Greening Siamsa initiative in 2017, which has resulted in us reducing our carbon footprint by 40% do date. It’s also why we welcome submissions from artists whose work addresses issues such as climate change, biodiversity, and the Anthropocene.

If any of this sounds like you, why not consider applying to exhibit here at Siamsa Tíre?

We currently operate an Open Submission policy, which accepts applications from artists who are keen to exhibit. Applications are encouraged from emerging, mid-career, and established professional artists who are local or who wish to engage and work locally. Priority will be given to those that meet our programming policy criteria.

We are also open to group submissions and are happy to discuss ideas with artists who wish to curate a series of exhibitions that meet with our priorities.

Here’s How You Do It:

Send a proposal outlining your project to the Selection Panel along with brief costings, your CV, and examples of previous work. Electronic submissions are acceptable as are postal applications, with links provided where appropriate.

Proposals are considered annually in August and any submissions will be responded to before the end of September of that year. Do send in proposals throughout the year and we will consider them subject to space availability.

For further information or to submit a proposal, please complete our Enquiry Form and send by email with your proposal and additional information to marketing@siamsatire.com or post to Michelle Murphy at Marketing, Siamsa Tíre, Town Park, Tralee Co Kerry V92 XW44.

Please note: very large files will not make it past our server. Artists submitting proposals which include large files should contact us in advance at the above email address or follow an introductory email with a WeTransfer/Dropbox file.