Call for research consultant to explore pedagogies that support child agency in artistic practice.
ABSTRACT
The voice of the child and child agency within the creation and curation of performance based work for young children is at the forefront of funding policy. The rights of the child are now sanctioned by international law, but what of the process required to create agency that is meaningful to child, artist and early childhood educator? In the rush to establish precedent little thought has been given in Ireland to how this happens and how the integrity of all parties is maintained, integrated and enhanced. This research project, a partnership between The Civic/Ready, Steady SHOW!, The Department of Social Sciences at Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin, City Campus) and Monkeyshine Theatre Company will explore both theoretically and practically the pedagogies that would support appropriate methods of engagement, and that create an environment conducive to the child partnering with the artist on their own terms from an equal, neutral space. We believe that understanding these choices and unpacking the pedagogy behind them will give agency to the artist and the child in equal and reciprocal manner. The artist will be given agency to freely inhabit an open and creative exchange where the pressure of output and outcome and product are removed; the child will move to occupy the space that is created for their voice to be heard.
BACKGROUND
Funded by The Arts Council and South Dublin County Council Ready, Steady, SHOW! is The Civic’s ongoing programme of work for children and Young People, across both LIVE and DIGITAL platforms. The key focus for RSS! Is PLAY & STORYTELLING with a particular emphasis on supporting artists as they develop new and innovative experiences for babies, children and young people via individual, educational, peer group and family contexts. PLAY & STORYTELLING are the two cornerstones of excellence for Ready, Steady, SHOW!
These are our anchors in all areas of output and a focus for our artist development initiatives. The voice of the child and child agency within the creation and curation of work for young people and children is something that we are keen to ensure remains at the cornerstone of the making process for our artists.
Ready Steady SHOW wishes to explore the possibilities that might present themselves if the commissioning process were to move away from quantitatively justifying funding towards a qualitative model.
We wish to commission research into the pedagogies that would support appropriate methods of engagement, and that create an environment conducive to the children engaging with the artist on their own terms from an equal and in a truly neutral space. We believe that understanding these choices and unpacking the pedagogy behind them will give agency to the artist and the child in an equal and reciprocal manner. The artist will be given agency to freely inhabit a truly open and creative exchange where the pressure of output and outcome and…. product are removed. The child will move to occupy the space that is created for their voice to be heard. Practice in this way must be supported by an understanding of the pedagogies that shape this way of working. The researcher will bring the academic knowledge of these pedagogies into the conversation. Working with Monkeyshine Theatre alongside their ‘More Than Human’ project the researcher will help identify the lexicon and the language needed to articulate pedagogy behind their practise choices. They will help and explore with them what is meant by “best practice” in this area. They will share this learning with Monkeyshine and the Ready Steady Show! wider commissioning team.
KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
At the outset, the researcher will investigate existing literature pertaining to the task and pull the information together in a literature review to highlight current practice within the field of ‘Drama in Education’ with specific focus on the inclusion of the voice of the child in the creation and curation of cultural exchanges between theatre artist and the child as workshop participant. Working alongside Monkeyshine Theatre they will observe how Monkeyshine’s artistic practice best supports the exchange of ideas and facilitates a space for the co-creation of work with children. This research will take the form of in studio observation sessions as Monkeyshine are unpacking and developing their approach to the workshops for More Than Human. Interviews will be conducted with Monkeyshine Theatre about their practice.
Observation sessions will take place throughout the workshopping phase of the work. Interviews may also be conducted with the children engaging with the workshops if appropriate.
TIMELINE & DELIVERABLES
● Application deadline 28th Feb.
● Short list of candidates by 7th March.
● Interviews 9th / 10th March at TU, Grangegorman campus.
● April 2022 initial interviews with Monkeyshine Theatre and any artistic co-collaborators who will be working with them on the More Than Human project.
● Observation of workshops led by Monkeyshine in a school setting late May 2022.
● Attendance at Ready Steady SHOW festival June 2022 to talk about the process so far.
● Attendance at EECERA Conference Glasgow July 2022.
● Internal presentation of findings October 2022.
● Public Panel Discussion alongside Monkeyshine and Michael Barker Caven as part of the Pedagogy and Practice: A Conversation lecture series Nov 2022.
● Findings will be submitted as a report document and presented in front of a panel inthe form of a lecture public panel discussion alongside Monkeyshine and Michael Barker Caven as part of the Pedagogy and Practice: A Conversation lecture series by Nov 2022.
QUALIFICATIONS AND KEY COMPETENCIES
The successful applicant will:
▪ Have the ability to work in an English spoken environment and demonstrate excellent writing and communication skills.
▪ Have completed a relevant post-graduate qualification.
▪ Have basic knowledge of pedagogy/ pedagogic principles
▪ Possess experience in conducting and analysing qualitative research (in-depth interviews).
▪ Have experience in writing up research for non-academic audiences.
▪ Must have an interest in the arts, specifically theatre and the exploration of artistic practise.
To apply please send an expression of interest, outlining your relevant experience and why you think you are a good fit for this project along with a copy of your CV to Hannah Mullan, Creative Producer early_years@civictheatre.ie .
Deadline 5pm 28th Feb 2022.
Fee: E5,000 plus travel and accommodation for attendance at EECERA Conference in Glasgow July 2022.
