Open Call for: Creative Producer and Programme Coordinator

Kilkenny County Council invites quotations from suitably experienced practitioners for two temporary consultancy roles to support the development and delivery of a major cultural programme in Kilkenny as part of Ireland's Presidency of the European Union in 2026:

• Creative Producer

These roles present an exciting opportunity to contribute to a high profile cultural programme that will celebrate Kilkenny's rich artistic, heritage and community life while embedding a strong European dimension through collaboration, exchange and shared cultural experiences.

About the Programme

In the context of Ireland's Presidency of the EU, Kilkenny County Council will deliver a dynamic and ambitious arts, heritage and cultural programme across the county between June and December 2026.

The programme will build on the strong foundations of Kilkenny's existing and highly regarded cultural activities, enhancing flagship moments such as Heritage Week, Culture Night, and other local arts and heritage initiatives. It will introduce new layers of engagement, visibility and participation, ensuring that already successful events are deepened, expanded and experienced in fresh ways by local communities and visitors alike.

The programme will showcase the very best of Kilkenny's artistic and cultural life-both traditional and contemporary-while highlighting Ireland's role in Europe. Collaboration with European partners, including links with paired Romanian communities, will form an important strand of the work.

Role Overviews Creative Producer

The Creative Producer will play a lead role in researching, developing and delivering a cohesive programme of artistic and cultural activity during the EU Presidency period. Working closely with Kilkenny County Council's Arts, Heritage and Library services, the Creative Producer will shape projects, oversee delivery, coordinate artists and contributors, manage budgets, and ensure high quality, inclusive and accessible public experiences.

This role is ideally suited to an experienced arts or cultural producer with a strong track record in delivering ambitious programmes, working collaboratively, and managing complex projects within public and civic contexts.

• Indicative fee: Not to exceed €9,000
• Duration: May - December 2026

Programme Coordinator

The Programme Coordinator will provide essential administrative, logistical and coordination support to the Creative Producer. The role focuses on ensuring the smooth day to day operation of the programme, including scheduling, communications, event planning, budget administration, and on site support during events.

Working in close partnership with the Creative Producer and Kilkenny County Council staff, the Programme Coordinator will help ensure continuity, clear communication, and effective delivery across all programme elements.

• Indicative fee: Not to exceed €3,000
• Duration: May - December 2026

Key Dates

• Closing date for quotations: Friday 1 May 2026 at 12 noon

How to Apply

Full details for each role, including scope of work, required experience, assessment criteria and submission requirements, are available in the Request for Quotation (RFQ) documents linked below.

Applicants must submit the requested materials as a single PDF (maximum 5MB) by email, in line with the instructions outlined in each RFQ.

This project is funded by Culture Ireland and produced by Kilkenny County Council.

For further information or queries (in advance of the query deadline), please contact:
Mary Butler, County Arts Officer, or Regina Fitzpatrick, Heritage Officer.