Applications are invited for a Clare Historian in Residence 2024. This residency will run for a period of three months – August to October 2024 inclusive. The total grant available to this residency is €6,000 and will be paid in monthly instalments to include all expenses. The deadline for completed applications is 12 noon on Friday 31 May 2024.
Funding has been provided by the Commemorations Unit of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media to each local authority in 2024 to support commemorative activities marking the centenaries or other major anniversaries of locally significant events and associated themes. The intention of the Clare programme is to create a legacy of research and/or cultural material for future generations which can be accessed through Clare Libraries.
The delivery of the programme should be inclusive, appropriate and sensitive. The guidance of the Expert Advisory Group for the Decade of Centenaries that ‘…local stories and experience will be very significant. Local research, scholarship and access to authentic local archival sources will support communities in exploring and reflecting upon these events…’ is still appropriate.
The Historian in Residence will be funded by the support provided for initiatives led by public libraries. Libraries are recognised as being accessible, trusted spaces at the heart of their communities that protect and preserve the collective memory for their respective counties, in the form of unique collections of books, maps, photographs, prints, newspaper archives, and manuscripts. Throughout the Decade of Centenaries, libraries played a special role in connecting and engaging with local communities and will continue to perform a significant role as ‘cultural brokers’, managing conversations, building relationships and engaging communities in a meaningful way.
Residency:
There will be an expectation of regular working and regular public facing hours, totalling an average of 20 hrs per week. This includes the possibility of evening, daytime and weekend working, as may be needed to suit programming requirements. It also includes time spent on development, research, writing, preparation of public events, attendance at meetings, reporting and administration.
Successful applicants must be available to be in person in Clare while working on the residency (c. three days per week and for the duration of History Week). The working pattern and programme of work will be agreed with the successful applicant.
Applicants will be responsible for the programming of Clare Libraries History Week which will take place in October 2024. A budget will be made available to the Historian in Residence to cover costs such as speakers’ fees. Such expenditure must be agreed in advance with Clare Libraries.
Applicants must be Tax Compliant and provide a Tax Clearance Access Number (TCAN) and Tax Reference Number and hold their own insurance cover, including Professional Indemnity.
Brief: Historian in Residence
The Historian in Residence should have a proven track record in both historical research and the creation of digital content. It is essential that the applicant is experienced in digital media and can provide examples of their work to date.
The Historian in Residence will develop a comprehensive programme for consideration, with final approval by the Senior Executive Librarian, Clare Libraries.
Clare Libraries History Week was established in 2019 and runs annually in October with a variety of lectures and exhibitions.
The successful applicants should be familiar with local commemorations and events relating to 1924 in Clare.
The Historian in Residence will co-ordinate research work and timelines; identify themes, in line with key themes outlined by Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht Sport and Media (see below), events and notable figures; engage with community groups, local historians, historical societies and schools. He/she will promote interest and engagement in history among a non-academic audience. The Historian in Residence will collaborate with Clare Libraries and Archives to promote local history sources, including newspapers, County Council Minute Books and other relevant material. The Historian in Residence will provide creative solutions to engage communities and make Clare’s history relevant and a source of inspiration and education.
Essential requirements for candidates:
- A third level qualification in a relevant subject area or Recognised Prior Learning to a standard that demonstrates their capacity to deliver the required programme.
- Experience of working with the community.
- A proven track record in historical research.
- Familiarity with the broad history of County Clare and the county during 1924. Applicants should be familiar with relevant local and national sources for Co Clare.
- Proficiency in the use of social media and digital technologies.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a wide cross section of the local community and demonstrate evidence of same.
The Role of the Historian in Residence:
- Responsible for working with the Senior Executive Librarian, the Local Studies Librarian and Archivist to identify themes, events and notable figures and co-ordinate research to present to local communities.
- Liaise with local historians and historical societies to develop a comprehensive programme.
- Ability to co-ordinate a programme for Clare Libraries History Week.
- The Historian in Residence will be required to abide by all relevant Clare County Council policies and guidelines.
Clare County Council shall retain the right to publish material generated as part of the programme without additional remuneration or permission and will acknowledge the author of research published.
All programmes will be delivered with the co-operation and goodwill of the community at large and involve outreach projects online and/or in schools, libraries and communities across County Clare. The Historian in Residence will demonstrate an ability to deliver and co-ordinate outreach events within the library and throughout the broader community, to facilitate an inclusive Commemorative Programme.
Applications should be made by sending the above information as ONE single attachment (either in PDF or word format) incorporating all of the below required information:
- An up-to-date CV, including the names and contact details of two professional referees;
- A written submission of interest which outlines approaches to the residency. (1,000 words maximum) to include examples of previous similar and relevant work in the area of history.
Please send completed application and a current CV marked ‘Historian in Residence’ by email to: decadeofcentenaries@clarecoco.ie
The deadline for completed applications is 12 noon on Friday 31 May 2024.
Clare County Council reserves the right to shortlist candidates and interviews may be held with selected candidates prior to the final evaluation.
Applications will be assessed under the following criteria:
- Qualifications/Recognised Prior Learning. 10 Marks
- Experience/proven track record in historical research and capacity to deliver the required programme. 20 Marks
- Demonstrate familiarity with the broader history of Co Clare and with relevant local and national sources. 20 Marks
- Demonstrate proficiency in the use of digital technologies and social media. 25 Marks
- Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills and be able to work with a wide cross section of the local community and demonstrate evidence of same. 25 Marks.
- TOTAL = 100 Marks
Suggested themes and initiatives set out by Dept. for consideration by local authorities in 2024
Broad themes are set out below. This is not an exhaustive list.
- Community-led commemoration and reflection; Remembering local legacies, personalities, places, events, and themes that had particular significance for Co Clare and its communities in 1924 and in the early years of the State. Exploring local connections with nationally important events and how these events were experienced or received locally.
- Clare and the Wider World; Exploring the international dimension, including local connections, emigration, and the role of the Clare Diaspora in the events that occurred during the early years of the State. Exploring how events in Ireland were received and reported abroad.
- Experiences of Clare Women; Exploring the experiences of Clare women during the early years of the State and their contribution to the events that occurred, including their changing role in society.
- Democracy and Politics; Exploring the prominent personalities in Clare and local issues associated with elections during this period.
- Establishing a New Order in Clare; Exploring the evolution of political and administrative structures at local government level; Exploring the establishment and development of the various institutions of the State; Exploring the development of new infrastructure, e.g. transportation, communications, postal services, energy, etc.
- Re-building a Nation; Reflections on healing, repairing and re-building in the context of the traumatic legacy of the Civil War in Clare.
- A changing society in Clare during the early years of the State; Exploring the themes below in the context of the early years of the State…
- Popular social, cultural, and civic movements;
- The Irish language;
- Social policies and welfare;
- Education;
- Family life and children in the early years of the State;
- Labour and employment;
- Land and rural life;
- The role of religion and faith;
- The significance of sport in communities;
- Innovation and developments in the fields of industry, agriculture, science, commerce, health and medicine, communications, technology, recreation.
- Other significant anniversaries, events and themes; Exploring other historical events and related themes, and their significance for the local authority area (e.g. the Great Famine; Clare Election 1828, the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829)