Wicklow County Arts Office is offering a second round of Artist one-to-one Coaching Sessions with experienced coaches and expert consultants from the arts sector.

Designed to cater for a range of artists at different career stages these sessions will assist in:

• Identifying strengths and areas for improvement
• Working towards goals and realise priorities
• Creating sustainable plans and realistic strategies
• Increasing confidence and working with imposter syndrome
• Finding direction, energy and creative resilience

In order to take part, please submit an expression of interest through an online application process. If successful, they will receive two one-to-one coaching sessions to support their thinking, prioritisation and goal orientation for 2022.

The coaches facilitating this opportunity in 2022 are;

• Katherine Zesserson, a strategic advisor, coach, facilitator, artist and trainer
• Susan Coughlan, an experienced independent facilitator, coach and consultant in the arts and cultural sector.
• Paul Johnson, a creative and strategic thinker with many years’ experience in arts management, leadership, strategy development, governance and coaching & mentoring.
• Helen Meany, an arts consultant, coach and curator, with a background in arts journalism. 

Open from Tuesday 3rd May, expressions of interest were submitted via Summittable.
In the event of oversubscription shortlisting may apply.

How to express your interest:

• Click on the link to complete an online application. Emailed, faxed or posted applications will not be accepted
• Within this online application, provide a brief outline of your 2022 goals for your practice
• Upload an up-to-date C.V. (max 2 pages)

This Open Call has now closed.

Katherine Zesserson is a  strategic advisor, coach, facilitator, artist and trainer. She believes in the power of reflective practice to inspire human development and build compassionate communities.  She qualified as a coach with Relational Dynamics 1st in 2016, and has a varied free-lance portfolio combining one to one coaching and mentoring; organisational and leadership development; creative practice as a musician and writer; design and delivery of professional training in a wide range of third sector contexts;  speaking engagements and guest lecturing.  She often works at the intersections between leadership culture.

Susan Coughlan is an experienced independent facilitator, coach and consultant in the arts and cultural sector. She has worked with over 100 Irish artists and arts organisations over the past 25 years. Through her business, Art of Change she helps individual practitioners, arts organisations and teams to adapt to change and to reflect and learn from experience.

She is a qualified Relational Dynamics 1st coach, Enneagram Coach and Action Learning Facilitator. As a coach her approach is person-centred, supporting reflection, self-awareness and creative resilience. Through her business Art of Change she provides leadership development and peer learning supports for practitioners of all types.  In collaboration with Dublin Dance Festival she established Upsource providing leadership development and peer learning opportunities for artists and arts leaders. Susan has formerly worked in arts development, philanthropy, community arts, theatre production, youth work and community development. 

Paul Johnson is a creative and strategic thinker with many years’ experience in arts management, leadership, strategy development, governance and coaching and mentoring.

Paul was Chief Executive of Dance Ireland for over 16 years; other posts include Interim Director with Firkin Crane Cork, and Artists’ Services Manager with the Arts Council (2003 to 2006). He is currently working with Scoil Acla (traditional arts summer school, Achill) on a strategy development process, in parallel with a research project for Irish Writers Centre and dramaturgy and mentoring projects with a range of artists and companies.

His background is in the performing arts and includes periods working with dance, theatre, film and multi-media companies; working as a performer, choreographer and creative collaborator with Artsource Ltd, Dublin Contemporary Dance Theatre, Daghdha Dance Company, Sarah-Jane Scaife, Scottish Ballet Steps Out, TAG, and Druid Theatre Company among others.

Helen Meany

Helen Meany is an arts consultant, coach and curator, with a background in arts journalism. 

She was Literature Advisor with the Arts Council from 2011-18 and is an experienced assessor of funding applications for grants and awards, both for the Arts Council and for local authority Arts Offices. She currently works as a consultant with a wide range of arts organisations, including festivals and arts centres. 

A qualified Coach with a Diploma in Coaching from the Irish LifeCoach Institute (2016-17), Helen offers one-to-one coaching and group facilitation, as well as mentoring/consulting support for individuals in their creative and leadership development. Helen incorporates a range of approaches and techniques into her coaching sessions, being mindful always to reflect and respond to the client’s own preferences and aspirations. 

Helen’s full professional profile is HERE