"I hope that this residency can be seen as a success for future rollouts in other venues as I feel it has really helped me .... I come away from it feeling like I know myself a bit better and there's a softening of the edges around this stigma. I'm very happy that there is such a welcoming of understanding of how autism is now perceived in the arts." Patrick stefan
Music Network and Ionad Cultúrtha wish to provide a significant development opportunity specifically for a professional musician who is autistic/a person with autism and who has a strong track record in music performance.
This opportunity recognises that many such musicians face barriers toward career progression that others may not. The main purpose of the residency is to provide time and space for a Musician-in-Residence to develop their practice intensively.
Through this opportunity Music Network and Ionad Cultúrtha are seeking to make space for social change in the music sector in general and hope to learn from the Musician-in-Residence how they can better facilitate and include autistic people/people with autism in their own programmes and in the wider sector, both in performance and educational environments.
This opportunity follows the appointment of Patrick stefan in 2024 as the first ever Musician-in-Residence in a residency specifically for a professional musician who is autistic/a person with autism, a partnership between Music Network and St. John’s Theatre and Arts Centre, Listowel. Speaking about the opportunity he said “I hope that this residency can be seen as a success for future rollouts in other venues as I feel it has really helped me .... I come away from it feeling like I know myself a bit better and there's a softening of the edges around this stigma. I'm very happy that there is such a welcoming of understanding of how autism is now perceived in the arts.”
This year’s selected musician will receive a bursary of €8,000 and have access to a dedicated space during October and November 2025 to develop their creative practice and create new work and/or artistic collaborations. They will also engage with the wider community, working alongside an experienced facilitator to deliver a programme of inclusive music activities, and showcase their work live in concert at the end of the residency in November/December.
Commenting on the announcement, CEO of Music Network Sharon Rollston said: “We are delighted to partner with Ionad Cultúrtha to offer this residency, only the second of its kind, which we see as a valuable opportunity not only to support an autistic musician but also to learn from them as they spend time at the venue as Musician-in-Residence.”
Artistic Director of Ionad Cultúrtha Liadh Ní Riada said "We are looking forward to empowering artists who have unique challenges in developing their work. The Ionad Cultúrtha is delighted to afford artists the opportunity to create in our space and we hope that this is the start of recognising the need for more equality and inclusivity in the arts.”
Last year’s awardee Patrick stefan will visit Baile Mhúirne to perform a special concert featuring the world premiere of a new Irish language commission he has written at Ionad Cultúrtha on 22 August to mark National Heritage Week.
Prior to that, an online information meeting for people potentially interested in applying for the Residency will take place on Thursday 14 August at 11 am.
Applications for the 2025 residency are now open and the deadline for applications is Monday 1 September at 2pm. Applications can be made online or by email. The online application form, guidelines and registration for the online information session are available now at the link below or by contacting programmesadmin@musicnetwork.ie.
This programme is presented by Music Network in partnership with Ionad Cultúrtha, supported by the Arts Council, Ealaín na Gaeltachta, Cork Education and Training Board.