TY Community Arts Experience

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Introduction

County Longford Arts Service organise community arts experiences for Transition Year Students in County Longford. This opportunity is open to a limited number of transition year students (or similar aged, home-schooled students) in County Longford with an interest in finding out more about the role of artists and art making in their community.

This experience gives TY students an opportunity to volunteer their time in a creative environment. For many young people this will be their first experience of volunteering and active citizenship.  No prior experience in any artform is necessary to secure a place. The ideal participant for the TY Arts Experience is a young person who is curious, brave, kind and willing to try something new (It is important that you demonstrate this in your application).  These experiences are designed to facilitate any student who wants to use them as part of their Gaisce Bronze Award preparation. 

There is an administration fee of €25 charged by County Longford Arts Service to participants who accept placement offers.

The Following TY experiences are available for 2026/27:

1. Dead of Night Festival Experience Application

Deadline: 17.09.26

2. Longford County Choir Experience Application

Deadline: 17.09.26

3. Longford Community Circus Experience Application

Deadline: 04.12.26

4. Street Art Skills Experience Application

Deadline: 04.02.26

 

Dead of Night Festival

The Dead of night festival is a street spectacle parade that occurs in Longford Town on Halloween night. Local artists spend many months of planning and preparation to develop this premiere spectacle event. Students will get a chance to work with artists to become performers and float-pushers in the parade.  Preparation for this programme takes place between 06-31 October and involves a time commitment of approximately 15 hours over 6 sessions. Participating students will work with the Artistic Director and the production team and participate in the parade as:

  • Parade performers
  • Stilt walkers
  • Float operators

Application Process: There are 40 places available. 10 stilt walkers and 30 performers / float operators. This is a competitive process. To secure a place you must fill out the form in the link below by 25th September 2026. Offers will be made by end of September.

CLICK HERE to apply for Dead of Night Festival experience

 

Longford County Choir Christmas Concert

Who are we?

Longford County Choir is the largest choir in County Longford and performs a Christmas every year. It is a four-part harmony choir.

What is a four-part harmony? Four-part harmony singing means that the choir is divided into four parts comprising soprano, alto, tenor and bass singers. Soprano and alto are generally females with sopranos having higher pitched voices that altos. Tenors and bass singers are generally male with tenors having higher pitched voices. Each section will usually sing different notes producing a rich harmonic sound.

Students who have a love of singing and who want to experience what it is like to be in a choir will really enjoy this programme. Students will learn how the different parts of a choir work together and how a musical director gets the best performance out of everyone.  Rehearsals begin in mid-September and take place every Wednesday 7.30-9.30pm. The Christmas concert takes place on 20 December 2026.

Application Process: There are 20 places available. To secure a place you must fill out the form in the link below by 17th September 2026.

CLICK HERE to apply for Longford County Choir experience

 

Longford Community Circus

Longford Community Circus is a circus school for young people in sampling circus arts education programmes and training. Circus TY Experience provides a great opportunity for students to learn a variety of new skills and talents and an opportunity to get active, make friends and try something new.

Over 13 weeks students will be introduced to the various disciplines of circus including aerial, balance, manipulation and clowning. Students will practice teamwork, make friends and have the opportunity to develop strength, focus, imagination and creativity.  The programme takes place from January to April 2027.

Application Process: There are 30 places available. To secure a place you must fill out the form in the link below by 4th December 2026. Longford Community Circus charge a weekly subscription fee for this programme.

CLICK HERE to apply for Longford Community Circus experience.

Street Art Skills Experience.

Longford Arts Service are providing an opportunity for young artists to learn skills and techniques associated with street Art, specifically wall based murals. This four day training programme will provide twelve TY students the opportunity to work with an experienced street artist and develop an art piece.  The programme led by an experienced street artist, will provide opportunities for students to learn more about street art techniques including research, composition, scaling up, use of stencils and spray techniques.

This experience would suit students considering doing art and design as a leaving cert subject.

Application Process: There are 12 places available. This is a competitive process. To secure a place you must fill out the form in the link below by 4th February 2027. The programme takes place 5-9 April 2027.

CLICK HERE to apply for Street Art Skill Experience

Assessment and Acceptance Criteria

Places will be allocated on the following basis:

  • Applicants who have completed application in full.
  • Applicants who have clearly demonstrated that they have an interest, passion and commitment to participating in the programmes.
  • Applicants accepting place must make their own arrangements with the school they are attending regarding their absence for the programme duration.
  • Parents and guardians will be invited to attend an information session prior to programme and will be required to sign a programme consent form.
  • A waiting list will be complied in case awarded places are not taken prior to programme.