Parenting Artist Residency 2027

This opportunity is open to visual artists with children between two and ten years old who live within a two-hour time difference from Ireland.

The Parenting Artist Residency is two weeks from March 22nd - April 4th, 2027.

Most of our residencies run from April to June. On occasion, we will run additional programming in August. You can visit our residency page to read more about current opportunities.

We host between two and four families for the Parenting Artist Residency.

You can apply for this residency by clicking the apply button on the bottom right-hand corner of this webpage. You will need a prepared portfolio in PDF format that is at most 10MB in size. We have no specific requirement for the number of images; we advise applicants only to submit relevant materials to reduce the size of email submissions. The images should include captions or short descriptions. For videos, films, or audio, please provide links to your website, Vimeo page, or YouTube page in the space provided.

Unfortunately, due to the high number of applications we receive for this opportunity we are not in a position to give individual feedback.

We assess applications considering artistic merit, suitability, and need. Below, you can read the guidance we give our selection panel prior to our meeting.

Artistic Merit

• Is the quality of the artist's work effectively represented in the supporting materials?

• Does the artist statement provide additional context for the artist's practice?

Suitability

• What does the context of Cow House Studios, including the surrounding landscape and cultural environment, offer the artist's practice?

• Will the applicant's practice benefit from and evolve as a result of the residency?

3- Need

• Do the artist's family circumstances present specific challenges to their practice?

• Has the artist's practice lapsed due to the demands of parenting?

Unless you and your partner have a collaborative practice, you should both apply separately. Artists are welcome to bring their families, so if one of your applications is successful, you can both take advantage of the residency and childcare.

You can read a comprehensive list of equipment and materials at Cow House here.

You can read a comprehensive list of equipment and materials at Cow House here. Please note that many of our materials are student-grade. If you require specific materials for your practice, you should bring them with you. Alternatively, you can have them shipped to the studio prior to your arrival. Our mailing address is as follows; please put your name at the top line of the address.

Your Name

Cow House Studios

Ballybawn, Rathnure

Enniscorthy, Co Wexford

Y21 T0X8, Ireland

Here is our location on Google Maps. You can also find us using our Eircode Y21 T0X8.

If you do not have a car, we offer a pick-up from Enniscorthy between noon and 1 PM on the first day of your residency, which will bring you to Cow House Studios. If you have a car, you're welcome to drive. Below are three popular services our guests have used for travel from Dublin.

Wexford Bus

Depart Dublin Airport Zone 14 at 9:30 AM - Arrive Enniscorthy 11:45 AM

Depart Dublin Airport Zone 14 at 10:30 AM - Arrive Enniscorthy 12:45 PM

Bus Eireann

Depart Dublin Airport Zone 13 Stop 9 at 10:00 AM - Arrive Enniscorthy 12:27 PM

Irish Rail

Depart Dublin Connolly at 9:33 AM - Arrive Enniscorthy 11:47 AM

If your arrival is outside these scheduled times, you may use Enniscorthy Cabs (053 923 6666) or TK Cabs (087 655 5190) to travel to Cow House.

We are about three miles from the villages of Rathnure and Killanne. Both villages have pubs that frequently have live music. A local link runs from Rathnure Village to the bigger towns of New Ross and Enniscorthy.

We offer a pick-up from Enniscorthy between noon and 1 PM on the first day of your residency, which will bring you to Cow House Studios. We will also provide transportation back to Enniscorthy on the last day of your program. We will coordinate a time that works for all our guests before departure.

There is a small art shop in Enniscorthy, but we advise coming prepared. You can order online and ship directly to the studio, or you can bring materials with you. You can read a comprehensive list of equipment and materials at Cow House here. If you decide to ship materials, our mailing address is as follows; please put your name at the top line of the address.

Your Name

Cow House Studios

Ballybawn, Rathnure

Enniscorthy, Co Wexford

Y21 T0X8, Ireland

This residency is generously supported by Wexford County Council and is provided free of charge to successful applicants.

This residency includes a €500 stipend.

Cow House Studios provides a private room and studio, three nutritious, homemade meals daily, some materials and equipment, technical support Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 1 PM, and childcare from 10 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday.

Our accommodation is beside the studio. The 300-year-old renovated stone barn provides our guests with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The shared experience of living, eating, and spending time together forms an integral part of life at the Cow House. The Barn contains five en-suite bedrooms, a cozy dining room, a large living area, an expanding visual arts library, and a busy kitchen where we prepare home-cooked food. Generally, each aritst will share a large room with 4 beds (2 bunks) with their family. If there addtional needs please let us know in the application.

At Cow House, we take our food seriously. We ensure that everyone eats three delicious and healthy meals daily and are happy to accommodate any dietary needs, whether food allergy or vegan or vegetarian requirements. At the creative direction of Co-Director Frank Abruzzese, we serve a variety of foods, from Irish to Mexican, Italian to Middle Eastern. We are proud to use ingredients produced locally: fresh milk and cheese, natural Irish beef and lamb, delicious root vegetables, not to mention our home-baked bread, fruit preserves, ferments, and delicious desserts.

Artists are welcome to bring their immediate families; however, we are unable to accommodate additional overnight guests for this residency. Artists are welcome to invite colleagues or collaborators for the day. We can provide a lunchtime meal for them during their visit.

Many can travel to Ireland without a visa. This website provides a comprehensive list.

If you do not see your question here, please email frank@cowhousestudios.com with any additional queries.

Each year, we hire two childminders to take care of the artist's children during the Parenting Artist Residency. In the past, these childminders have been students of early childhood education with extensive experience caring for young children.

The childminders supervise the children on-site, in the accommodation building next to the studio, and during outdoor activities on the grounds. There is a small group, consisting only of the resident artists' children. While we cannot predict the exact size of this group, we can accommodate up to 6 children, ensuring plenty of individual attention. The activities and games are generally tailored to the children's interests and needs, allowing some flexibility.

Activities include both free play and organized projects, focusing on exploring our natural environment, making art, and preparing food. Typically, we host three or four families for the residency.