With the applications closing for the Factory Days and Factory Bites residency programme, we got in touch with some of last year’s recipients to find out how the residency programme at Circus Factory Cork helped them develop as an artist. Applications close January 27th at 5.30 pm.
2021 Residency Programme Recipients
Natasha Bourke – Interdisciplinary Artist
Natasha is an Ireland-based interdisciplinary artist of Irish/Dutch descent with a fine art and extensive movement/circus background. She is one of the three that received funding for the Factory Days programme which includes an artist stipend of €250 per week. Natastha was also offered €800 towards accomodation For the duration of Natasha’s residency, she worked with a number of collaborators to develop new solo work incorporating live sound, projection, vertical dance and tightwire.
How did the residency programme help you develop as an artist?
“Alongside support from the Next Generation Bursary, this opportunity enabled me to sustain & further my dedicated practice, acquire specialised mentorship & broaden my network. During week one of my residency, I started to develop innovative new material towards a future bold swimming pool-based interdisciplinary performance (working title Kilter, Matter and Ghosts) which contemplates themes of self & society with humorous, dark & dreamlike poetism whilst merging core areas of my practice: tightrope, harness, movement, text, installation & sound. I look forward to undertaking week 2 of my residency in early February to conduct further research and refine the existing material. Funding and venue pending, I hope to premiere this work in the 2023 edition of Cork Midsummer Festival. “
Judenald M. Penders – Performer, Creator, Commentator
Judenald is a performer, a creator, a commentator. Philosopher, poet, and musician. And a recipient of our 2021 Factory Bites Programme. Aiming to facilitate a deeper understanding of the world and of humanness through art, creating performances that foster and develop intimate connections with audiences. Jude will use their residency time to work on their first solo show – a currently untitled story of trauma, fear and hope from a Queer Irish experience.
How did Judenald develop as an artists with the residency programme?
The factory bites residency, in conjunction with Arts Council funding, allowed me to undertake a period of research with a mentor and director. That time has proven to be of tremendous benefit to me now six months later. The research conducted during the residency has formed part of the building blocks which I can now develop towards future production.
Kate Mitchell – Hula Hoop Circus Artist
Kate was a recipient of our Factory Bites residency programme 2021 and has been practicing circus for more than seven years. As part of the programme, she got creative use of the space and mentoring. Kate took part in the Factory Bites residency programme and spent a week researching shapes with her hula hoops. This year’s (2022) Factory Bites residency programme includes two additional funding elements: an artist stipend of €500 and €500 stipend of towards mentor/director/choreographer/dramaturgy.
How did the residency programme contribute to your artistic development?
“My participation in Factory Days was hugely beneficial to the creation of my latest work ‘Misneach’, the support provided me the opportunity to work closely with a variety of mentors to focus on the research and development of my show and my practice.”
Linda Cullen – Aerial Artist
Women in Ceremony @ Circus Factory’s “Factory Days Extended” Residency programme June 2021, Video by Jesse Halloway
Linda studied aerial dance in Europe, specialising in theatre, dance and fusing movement. Her background is in street theater and performances that engage topics of body image, femininity and ceremony. Linda researched ritualistic movement to create contemporary choreography as part of her Factory Bites residency.
Tell us about the residency programme you took part in with Circus Factory Cork?
“We completed a residency with Rachel Ní Bhraonáin at Circus Factory Cork in 2021, resulting in a 7 minute choreographed performance. This choreography was based on slow fluidic movement, researching ritualistic movement and creating contemporary dance pathways to present our research. This work has been presented at Pitch’d Festival and Solstice Celebration Greywood Arts for 2022.”
Eimear Ní Mhaoldonaigh – Multidisciplinary Performance Artist
Eimear is a multidisciplinary performance artist, who’s art explores themes of identity, sexuality, autonomy, perception and the dichotomy of human emotion. With access to the Circus Factory training venue and equipment during her Factory Bites residency, Eimear was able to explore concepts and techniques along with mentorship Circus Factory staff, Artistic Director and Associate Artists.
What did your Circus Factory residency help you achieve?
‘I thought I knew what I wanted from my residency, what my goals were and what I would achieve, but as I moved through the freedom of the time and space afforded to just me (and my dog), it morphed and developed into something new. I experimented with things I had never even considered before, found new pathways and new ways of relating to my apparatus and put solid ground work in place for future work.’
Aduantas Aerial – Aerial and Floor Acrobatics Trio
Derived from aduain – aduantas describes a feeling of unease, anxiety or fear brought on by unfamiliar surroundings. As part of their residency Aduantas created a performance art-piece melding aerial dance, theatre, storytelling, and floor acrobatics, appropriate for public consumption in an outdoor setting with social distancing. The performance incorporated bespoke music and sound, together with innovative lighting in a night-time/evening spectacle. As part of their Factory Days residency funding, they received a Travel and accommodation stipend allowing them to stay in Cork and explore for the duration of the residency!
What was your experience of the Circus Factory residency programme?
“Myself, Laura and Pearse really loved our time at the Factory Days Residency. The two weeks allowed us plenty of time to develop work but also to enjoy spending time in Cork City. This made the residency different from any we have experienced before, usually a week spent in a warehouse that could be anywhere! The fact that we were able to explore Cork meant we were able to showcase a live performance at the Marina Market for the locals, different from the usual style of closed showings for a small group of specific (usually circus) people. We felt huge support from the Circus Factory, who were incredibly accommodating to all of our needs. The Circus Factory staff made us feel really safe with regards to Covid measures and also helped us to transport all of the gear to our performance, helped us rig and de-rig, photographed us and came to support our performance as audience members. The facilities and space at Circus Factory allowed us to explore beyond our usual practice. We would also like to give a shout out in particular to Louisa, who went above and beyond to make sure we got the most out of the residency that we could!”
How many people received funding through this residency programme?
There were nine recipients in total exploring a range of disciplines in the Circus Factory Cork. Not listed above but also participated in the residency programme are:
- Kathleen Doherty
- Jude Marcus Penders
- Elisa Gallo Rosso
- Vicki M.Davis
Can I Apply to the Residency Programme?
Absolutely, you can! The Circus Factory Residency Programme is actually divided into two programmes: Factory Days and Factory Bites. Although they have slight differences, both area aimed at giving you the freedom to explore and develop as an artists. Each programme caters for artists at different stages of their practice so they really do cater for all.
Factory Days Residency Programme Supports:
- Artist Stipend of €1,500.
- Travel and accommodation stipend of max €1,200 per residency – submission of receipts required.
- 20 hours per week (max 4 hours per day) private use of Circus Factory Training Venue between 1pm and 5pm. Valued at €500 per week
- 24 hour access to Circus Factory Training Venue – To be shared with Circus Factory Members outside of private use.
- Use of Circus Factory equipment resources.
- Mentoring support from Circus Factory Artistic Director and Associate Artists, Loosysmokes (subject to availability)
- Mentoring and administrative In-kind support from Circus Factory staff, Artistic Director and Associate Artists, including technical and digital support to assist artists in the realisation of their residency under conditional Covid19 restrictions at the time.
Factory Bites Residency Programme Supports:
- **New this year**Artist Stipend of €500
- **New this year** €500 stipend of towards mentor/director/choreographer/dramaturgy
- 20 hours per week (max 4 hours per day) private use of Circus Factory Training Venue between 1pm and 5pm. Valued at €500 per week
- 24 hour access to Circus Factory Training Venue – to be shared with Circus Factory Members outside private use
- Use of Circus Factory equipment resources
- Mentoring and administrative in-kind support from Circus Factory staff, Artistic Director and Associate Artists, including technical and digital support to assist artists in the realisation of their residency under conditional Covid19 restrictions at the time.
Both programmes welcome proposals at any stage of development : from initial investigations to the realisation of a work in development. For more information and to download your application form, keep reading about the Circus Factory residency programme here. Remember applications are closing this week. The countdown is on!
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