Open Call for Westival 2024

 

The Open Call for Westival 2024 is now open and invites artists wishing to be considered for presentation in this year's festival to submit their proposal.  

Please read the information below before applying:  

What We Are Interested In

  • Westival exists to celebrate the art being created locally and regionally, so those artists and performers will be prioritised. We always keen to hear from any artists, producers, or groups local to Mayo and the North West region.
  • We love to hear ideas that cover all art forms, pop-ups or happenings. Proposals can include; music, theatre, performance art, food, literature, spoken word, comedy, debates, talks, workshops, discussions, dance, street spectacle, site-specific happenings, dance, design, architecture, circus, cabaret, storytelling – this list is not exhaustive so don’t feel like you have to fit into any particular category.
  • Diversity excites us and we want to hear from all nationalities, languages, ages, sexual orientation, cultural backgrounds, and religions. 
  • While we welcome submissions across all genres, priority will be given to family programming, theatre, workshops, and community led projects.
  • We are particularly encouraging applications from those currently underrepresented in the arts, including but not limited to artists of colour, artists who identify as LGBTQI+, artists with disabilities, migrants, and members of the Traveller community.
  • While we have some funding allocated for submissions there is a very limited amount, so any events that can be ticketed will be easier to accommodate.
  • Next year we celebrate 50 years of Westival! So if you have something ambitious in mind that won't be possible this year, or you'd like some support in developing, talk to our Festival Director at sarahbyrne@westival.ie. 

 

The Theme 

Our theme this year is ‘"Inner Landscapes", inspired by the internal journeys that lead to renewal; delving into the mental and emotional landscapes we traverse during periods of rest.

 

What We Consider in Your Assessment

  • Originality is important, and the quality of your proposal counts. We want your event to artistically enhance the festival and enrich our audience’s experience.
  • Feasibility of your proposal. We need to see that your project can be produced safely, on time and on budget, and we will prioritise proposals which demonstrate experience in producing and realising events or the activities you propose to deliver. Your proposal should also include an indication of the fees and costs involved (see below).
  • The target age-group or audience type for your event.
  • Your ability to assist in the marketing & PR of your event to support the main festivals marketing team. This is particularly important with events depending on box-office ticket sales.
  • Venue sourcing or art form distribution.
  • How the proposal fits into our overall Westival Programme. We already have some events confirmed so if your proposal duplicates other elements of our programme it may not be considered.

Budget 

  • Please include an indicative budget for your proposed activity including all artist fees and additional costs.
  • We will consider a box office split where appropriate. 
  • Any budget overspend is the responsibility of the applicant.

    Offered to Successful Proposals

    • Your artist's fee. We believe in fair and equitable remuneration of all artists throughout our programme of events.
    • Your event or activity will be marketed and published as part of the overall Westival 2024 programme which will be released in mid Sept 2024.
    • The inclusion of your event/activity in the official printed programme and website.
    • We endeavour to secure media profile for the festival and its artists. Depending on the scale of the event you have proposed, we may require that you be available for interview.
    • Ticketed events will be sold through the Westival box office online. 

     

    Feedback + Selection

    Please be aware that, due to the volume of submissions received, we cannot respond or offer assessment and feedback to every submission individually. We will acknowledge receipt of your proposal once submitted. All submissions will be reviewed and if you are successful we will be in touch.

    How to Apply

    • The deadline for submissions is 7 June 2024 at 5pm. 
    • APPLY ONLINE HERE. 
    • We cannot accept postal, by phone or face to face applications.
    • If you have any access needs relating to the application please contact us here.