New opportunities for artists in Ireland, DC & beyond
Solas Nua Seeks New Executive Director
• SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED •
Solas Nua is seeking an ambitious new Executive Director in Spring 2023 to lead the organization into its third decade and to build upon the work and vision of departing Executive Director Miranda Driscoll. Over the last two and half years, Solas Nua has dramatically expanded its reach and ambition to produce, present and commission thought-provoking, ground-breaking work from Irish and Ireland-based artists. It's this incredible work and vision that the incoming Executive Director will now build upon.
This position is a senior management role for an accomplished, charismatic leader, with extensive experience in both arts management and multi-disciplinary programming and production.
“It has been an honor to lead Solas Nua into an exciting new chapter. I came into this role initially as Interim Executive Director two-and-a-half years ago, in the midst of Covid chaos – when we didn’t know how or when we would ever step foot into a venue again. Despite the significant challenges that Covid continues to throw at us, I am immensely proud of what we have achieved over the past number of years and would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Solas Nua Board, our funders, supporters and community in both Ireland and Washington, D.C. We are a very small team and I could not have achieved what I have done without my outstanding colleagues Rex Daugherty and Seán Wrenn, as well as our extended and expanding team of creative leaders and artists.
In my short time here we have, together, accomplished the following:
- Increased our annual budgets by 200%, bringing in more support from both the Government of Ireland and the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
- Created three new staff roles and contracted a new Director to run the Capital Irish Film Festival.
- Developed a long term programming vision and strategy. Produced / presented projects that spanned theatre, film, literature, dance, visual arts, music, podcasts and digital programming; many of which were World Premieres or US Premieres.
- Developed a new, ambitious commissioning strand which offers development opportunities to Irish artists and artists based in Ireland, working in all disciplines.
- Increased our ticket sales by an average of 35%.
- Fully rebranded with a striking new visual identity and developed a new marketing strategy with an ambitious new team.
- Created a fundraising strategy and team and created a path for sustainable giving to Solas Nua.
- Initiated new and built upon existing partnerships in D.C., New York, Philadelphia and Ireland.
Solas Nua is a remarkable organization to be part of and I am excited for this next chapter in what is unquestionably one of the leading Irish arts organization in the United States, perfectly situated in the Capital.”
Miranda Driscoll, Executive Director, Solas Nua.
The Norman Houston Project
• SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED •
The Norman Houston Project is a new project that was initiated in 2022 by Solas Nua in Washington D.C., dedicated to the memory of Norman Houston, the former Director of the Northern Ireland Bureau (NIB), in the United States. It includes the Capital Irish Film Festival’s Award for the best short film from Northern Ireland, and the Norman Houston Multi-disciplinary Commissioning Award.
The Norman Houston Multi-disciplinary Commissioning Award
This Award is a bi-annual commission for a new work. This exciting opportunity is now open to artists working in any discipline on the island of Ireland. Individuals or small collectives are both eligible.
The commission will comprise of a six-week research and development residency in Washington D.C. on agreed dates between 12th June and 07th September 2023 with a studio at STABLE Arts, travel and private accommodation provided (in year one), followed by a presentation of the new work produced for the commission (in year two). A presentation may include an exhibition, a performance, a staged reading, or a partial or full production. Expenses covered by the commission in year two will include production costs of up to $15,000, artists fees, travel, accommodation and shipping. Provided there is space in the accommodation, artists in residence may invite partners / families to visit for short periods of time, at their own expense.
Capital Irish Film Festival 2023
• SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED •
We showcase Irish films and films by Ireland-based filmmakers. The four-day Festival is based in Washington, D.C. at American Film Institute's Silver Theatre & Cultural Center (Silver Spring MD). We are supported by Culture Ireland, the Irish Film Institute and ScreenIreland.
The Festival also enjoys sponsorships from the Embassy of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Bureau.
CIFF 2023 will run from March 2 — 5, co-presented with the American Film Institute’s Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in downtown Silver Spring, MD.
Films accepted for the festival will be notified by late January 2023.
For more details and to submit your film, click the link below.
