Community
Applications open for Wideshot Programme supporting underrepresented young creatives
Applications Open for Wideshot Programme Supporting Underrepresented Young Creatives. Photo: Jite Birhire
Community-led initiative, Wideshot Programme, enters its fourth year, creating pathways into Ireland’s screen and media industries
Applications are now open for the fourth year of the Wideshot Programme, an initiative supporting young people aged 18–30 from migrant and underrepresented backgrounds to access pathways into Ireland’s screen and media industries.
Delivered by GORM, an award-winning social enterprise and intercultural consultancy, the programme combines hands-on workshops, mentorship, and peer-led learning. The programme focuses on access, recognising that confidence, networks, and professional support at the beginning of a creative career often determine longevity in the sector.
National research, including the Arts Council of Ireland’s Open Up: Building a More Inclusive Arts Sector report (2024), highlighted ongoing barriers for artists from ethnically diverse backgrounds. Wideshot responds at a practical level, creating spaces where emerging creatives can be equipped with the skills to not only tell a story well, but how to navigate the industry, with the support of facilitators with industry experience.
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Community workshops will take place at multiple locations in Ireland, including Limerick and Dublin. Wideshot’s impact is visible in the trajectories of its alumni. Laura Weymi, who participated in the first year of the programme (2023), is now working with RTÉ, demonstrating how early-stage support can translate into industry progression.
More recently, Ayonete Icha, a 2025 Wideshot alum, has created Last Night in Lagos, an interactive narrative game set in Nigeria’s entertainment capital. Developed after completing the programme, the work reflects a growing confidence to experiment with form and subject matter. Icha is available for interview.
The Wideshot Programme is designed as the first step in a longer pathway. Participants can progress into the Close-Up, GORM’s summer residency for emerging creatives, where one project receives €2,500 in development funding and is supported through to public screening at the GORM Gathering, GORM’s largest annual flagship event, which brings together over 200 attendees from across the arts, media, and community sectors.
“Representation doesn’t start on screen,” said Mamobo Ogoro, GORM CEO. “It starts with who gets supported before a story is ever told. Seeing Wideshot alumni make strides in their careers from working with national broadcasters to creating award winning short films is a reminder of why long-term support matters. This year, we’re scaling the Wideshot Programme more deeply, with plans to expand in 2026, engage with schools and empower more storytellers.”
Ayesha Syeddah, GORM’s Programme and Community Manager, added: “Talent isn’t the issue, access is. Ireland is rich with ability but it needs structure, resources and community. The Wideshot Programme is about meeting that gap. A truly thriving creative landscape must be representative and connected – that’s how Ireland puts itself firmly on the map.”
Applications for Wideshot Programme are now open. The deadline for applications is Sunday, 22nd of February at midnight.
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