University College Cork and Cork Opera House announce research opportunity

13 Jun 2024

• One-Year Masters by Research is open to artists across all disciplines.
• Unique studentship invites artists to explore immersive creative practice.
• The studentship is a key element of the Creating Together partnership between UCC and COH.

Applications are now open for a Masters of Research (MRES) Studentship in partnership with University College Cork (UCC) and Cork Opera House (COH).

The ideal candidate will be an independent, innovative artist whose work integrates research with artistic practice. The candidate will demonstrate a passion for research-based artistic exploration and a commitment to engaging audiences through immersive and thought-provoking experiences.

The initiative is part of the university’s collaboration with COH which creates opportunities for students to gain impactful professional experience in the creative practices industry while pursuing their studies. Throughout this partnership, the institutions collaborate to identify opportunities that will have a significant impact on the arts industry into the future.

University College Cork is ranked in the top 100 universities worldwide for Performing Arts in the QS World University Rankings.

Art for everyone – exploring inclusive practice for audiences

The successful candidate will undertake a practice-inclusive project leading to an MRes degree. The practical component will involve creating an audience-engaged exploration of Cork Opera House, emphasising its architecture, creative spaces, and significance in the Irish cultural landscape.

The final artwork could take various forms, including but not limited to:

• Film or screen media
• Creative writing
• Theatre performance or play
• Performative sound walk or podcast-style recording
• Self-guided mixed sound tour
• Sonic or audio art
• Musical compositions

The chosen medium will provide a fresh perspective on Cork Opera House, inviting audiences to explore areas or aspects they might never otherwise encounter. This work will be featured during Culture Night in September 2025, aiming to inviting both new and existing audiences to explore the Cork Opera House in a new way.

The selection committee is open to proposals that include other media or art forms. Interdisciplinary proposals that align with the wide range of expertise available in the School of Film, Music and Theatre are welcome.

Supporting emerging artists and makers

The MRES will also explore theoretical components of performance and creative practices, including explorations and contextualisation of artistic process, developing new methods for creative expression and audience engagement.

An academic supervisor or supervisory team from UCC School of Film, Music and Theatre will work with the successful candidate helping to guide their work.

UCC and Cork Opera House will offer access to the sound, theatre and media facilities in addition to technical and marketing supports to successfully support the creation of an original artistic project.

Professor Jools Gilson, Professor of Creative Practice and Academic Director of the UCC-Cork Opera House partnership, said: “We’re excited to once again invite applications for this exciting MRes programme as part of our Creating Together partnership. We invite applications from emerging artists across all disciplines who are keen to use this opportunity to explore their own creative practice and create extraordinary work for audiences.”

Past awardees include Kevin Terry, composer, performer and sound designer, and Angela O'Callaghan, writer, theatre-maker and creative producer.

How to apply

Applications are open until midnight on Monday, 22 July 2024.

The one-year Masters of Research (MRes) is valued at €13,500. Full-time UCC fees €5,770; stipend of €6,130; making fee of €1,600.

The masters will commence on 1 October 2024, with final submission on 30 September 2025.

View more information here