Red Line Book Festival and SDCC Libraries invite applications for a new Songwriter in Residence to celebrate the delivery of the festival programme.

This residency will support a small cohort of emerging songwriters through a collaborative five-week development programme culminating in the professional recording of original songs for a special release connected to the festival.

We are seeking an experienced songwriter, lyricist or music creator with a strong artistic practice and an interest in mentoring and collaboration.

The selected Songwriter in Residence will:

·        Design and facilitate a five-week songwriting programme for a small group of participants

·        Support participants in developing and completing their own original song

·        Provide mentorship and constructive creative feedback

·        Foster a collaborative and inclusive workshop environment

·        Support participants in preparing work for recording

·        Contribute to a final showcase/listening event as part of Red Line Book Festival

·        Provide 2 songwriting workshops for young adults

·        Work collaboratively with library and festival staff throughout the programme

Participants will have access to recording studio facilities, with completed works intended for inclusion on a special release showcasing songwriting voices from South Dublin.

We welcome applications from songwriters and artists working across all musical genres and styles.

Applicants should demonstrate:

·        An established or emerging track record in songwriting and/or music creation

·        Strong lyric writing and storytelling ability

·        Experience facilitating workshops, mentoring or collaborative creative work

·        Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

·        An interest in supporting emerging creative voices

·        Experience of music production

Experience working in community, educational or arts settings is desirable but not essential.

 Five-week workshop programme plus planning and recording support sessions

 Showcase event during the Red Line Book Festival taking place Oct 12^th – 18^th 2026.

 Libraries and partner venues across South Dublin

 This is a Contract for Service and there is a grant of €5,000 available, inclusive of all relevant costs (but exclusive of recording costs) associated with the residency. This will be paid in two instalments, inclusive of all expenses incurred. Applicants must be tax compliant and provide a tax clearance access number (TCAN) and tax reference number and hold their own insurance cover.

 The successful applicant will be required to provide residency services on a part-time basis between August and December 2026.

Applicants should submit:

·        A short biography or artist CV

·        A brief outline of their songwriting practice and approach to mentorship/facilitation

·        Examples of previous work (links accepted)

·        A proposal outlining how they would approach the residency and workshop series

Applications will be assessed based on:

·        Artistic quality and originality

·        Strength of songwriting practice

·        Facilitation and mentoring experience

·        Suitability for collaborative community engagement

·        Quality and feasibility of proposed approach

·        Commitment to inclusion and accessibility

For further information, please contact:

Applicants must be over 18.

Red Line Book Festival is an annual festival celebrating literature, storytelling, creativity and cultural conversation across South Dublin County. The festival presents a diverse programme of events connecting writers, readers, artists and communities through libraries and cultural spaces.