The Inevitable Ether 2022

Greywood Arts & the National Space Centre invite expressions of interest from artists working in any visual, installation, or time-based medium who engage with themes of outer space, technology, and speculative futures in their work. This six-week residency from October 15 - November 25 is an incredible opportunity for an artist whose practice would benefit from observing the workings of a busy satellite groundstation campus before immersing themselves in the creative environment of The Residency at Greywood Arts.

The award includes an opportunity for the selected artist to showcase their research and creative process, and to experiment with installation of work from the residency at the National Space Centre, located near Midleton, Co. Cork.

The residency organisers seek imaginative proposals investigating big ideas on how we can conceive of the infinite possibilities the universe has to offer, or what our actions in outer space tell us about our relationship to Earth and to each other. From philosophy to science fiction, the complex themes that emerge might include space exploration and colonisation, space tourism, the regulation and control of outer space, satellite technology, space debris, radio and light pollution, climate change, planetary origins, asteroids, and the possibility of life in outer space.

Early career, women-identified, and minority artists are especially encouraged to apply. This award is named for Agnes Mary Clerke (1842-1907), an Irish astronomer and writer from County Cork, Ireland. Through her quarter-century career, she became a leading commentator on astronomy and astrophysics in the English-speaking world. She was the author of Modern Cosmogonies, whose chapter “The Inevitable Ether” inspired the title of this award.

The award includes:

• Access to the National Space Centre campus at Elfordstown Earthstation, Midleton Cork, Ireland.
• Accommodation and studio space at The Residency at Greywood Arts, Killeagh, Cork, Ireland.
• Transportation between Greywood Arts & the NSC
• €2,000 Stipend to be used for travel, per diem and materials at the discretion of the artist.

The artist will:

• Have access to the National Space Centre’s Elfordstown Earth Station for 5 working days (3 days in week 1, plus two additional visits in weeks 2-4).
• Engage with Earth Station staff, including the Chief Technical Officer and Operations Manager, at pre-scheduled times.  
• Have the opportunity to share their creative process and experiment with installation of work from the residency at the National Space Centre, which will open to the public November 18-20th. This opportunity to interface with the public will be showcased alongside an exhibition from our STEAM education programme.
• Participate in a public conversation about their research, practice and residency experience at the showcase launch at the NSC.
• Receive access to satellite imagery, data from the European Space Agency, NASA and the James Webb Telescope.
• Receive access to audio data from the Big Dish archive and Blackrock Observatory.
• Get feedback and curatorial support from Greywood Arts.
• Receive support in engaging with the community, if applicable.
• Have the opportunity to select a book for, and participate in, Greywood’s Meaningful Conversations Book Club session on November 22nd.  

• Applications from pairs of collaborators will be considered, but they must be willing to share a bedroom. Artists must be fully vaccinated to access the NSC campus.

Residency dates: October 15th – November 25th, 2022

Showcase dates: November 18-20 at the National Space Centre

Applications are done via an online form until the deadline on August 19, 2022. 

Applications should include

• Applicant's work & experience
• CV and/or Artist Statement,
• 2-3 work samples
• Applicant's interest in the residency, how it fits with their work, their ideas & instinctive imaginings, practical needs and feasibility, impact on their practice.

In case of questions, contact Greywood Arts at [email protected].