New Emerging Street Talent
N.E.S.T is a mentoring initiative offering new emerging street artists the opportunity to develop new work and present it to a public audience in a nurturing environment. It heightens the artists profile among programmers - national and international, and provides ongoing mentoring, support and guidance from N.E.S.T partners.
The N.E.S.T Programme is supported by Arts Council of Ireland.
N.E.S.T. 2018
Mentor: Simon Thompson.
Selected companies:
Turas Theatre Collective
Woven Circus Collective
The fourth edition of N.E.S.T was held at Spraoi Festival from 3rd-5th August 2018.
Learn more about the companies.
Feedback
Turas Theatre Collective
Taking part in NEST was a fun, re-invigorating, inspiring and very useful experience for us. To be afforded the time and space to develop our project in such a supportive environment was a gift. We received helpful, insightful and sensitive feedback; we were able to meet and exchange with other artists; and we had the opportunity to present our work to international presenters as well as engage with them during the festival within the framework provided by ISACS and Spraoi. As well as all this, we simply had a great time in Waterford and felt so welcomed and supported. NEST is a wonderful opportunity for emerging street artists and I would encourage anyone to apply for it.
Woven Circus Collective
Thanks so much to ISACS for having us as part of NEST this year. We enjoyed the experience and found it really helpful to spend the week working with Simon adapting our show to suit the street. It was a great opportunity to make connections internationally and locally which we hope to follow up in the future. We were well looked after by the whole team and loved being a part of the Spraoi festival alongside the other NESTers Turas Theatre Collective. It really was great fun and hugely helpful.
N.E.S.T. 2017
Mentor: Simon Thompson.
Selected artists:
Tom Campbell - Tom Campbell Artist
Sandra Gonzales Bandera - Kadira Theatre
Severine de Maleingrau - Sevesfeathers
N.E.S.T artists work was showcased at the Spraoi Festival from 4th-5th August.
Learn more about the artists.
Feedback
Severine De Maleingreau
As a former NEST artist, I received excellent and tailor-made mentoring to advance my skills in street performing, mainly in terms of audience engagement. I was welcome, nurtured and supported in the making of a new show that culminated in two very successful public street performances. I have developed long-lasting professional relationships with my mentor and the other NESTers. In addition, I had the fantastic opportunity to network with international professionals and gain invaluable insights into the international festival scene. As a direct result of the NEST programme, I have performed a new show as part of the Limerick Fringe Festival and I have secured a 2-week artistic residency with Spoffin, in the Netherlands.
Tom Campbell
The Nest program was a very useful and creative experience. It was great to work at Spraoi, it is a brilliant festival.
It gave me the opportunity to perform in front of European festival directors. I have got work this summer in Italy and Holland from it.
Due to ISACS and the NEST programme I have had offers of work at:
- Limerick Festival 2018
- Zomer in de Mare - Alkmaar - The Netherlands 2018
- Mirabilia, Italy 2018 with possible work in 2019
- Carlow Art Festival 2018
Thanks a lot, ISACS and Nest.
N.E.S.T. 2015
Curator: Con Horgan of Fanzini Brothers and director of the National Circus Festival Ireland.
Participating artists:
Michaela Heyer - Funky Fidelma
Henrik Gard - Circomara Sailing Circus
Brian O'Connell - Circus Fergus.
Participants work was showcased at the Spraoi Festival from 29th July-2nd August, followed by the Out There Festival, Great Yarmouth from 17-21st September and finally the National Circus Festival of Ireland from 13-15th November 2015.
Feedback
Henrik Gard
ISACS has given me a lot, especially in 2015 with one great opportunity to grow as an artist in the NEST programme, working with a director for a solo show and getting the opportunity to present it nationally and internationally.
N.E.S.T 2014
Curator: Con Horgan of Fanzini Brothers and director of the National Circus Festival Ireland.
Participating artists:
Alex Allison - Maleta
Francesca Castellano - Lulu's World
Aidan Phelan & Amelie Bal - Réalta
Feedback
Francesca Castellano
When I was selected to be part of the Nest Program I received highly professional directorial support and networking advice which still helps me to this day. I have met so many other artists and organizations through the many Symposiums organised by ISACS and my language, as a professional artist, has grown in confidence and intent. I was also selected to represent Ireland in Mirabilia last year, and I developed contact with other festivals in Italy which I will visit in the near future.
ISACS are extremely pleased to acknowledge the support of the Arts Council of Ireland with the N.E.S.T. initiative.
