Lead image commission for
Mother Tongues Festival 2027
Open call for illustrators
Applications are now closed
Commission fee
€ 1,000
Deadline for applications
13th September 2026
Final artwork delivery date
20th November 2026
Celebrating Ireland’s cultural and linguistic diversity, the Mother Tongues Festival’s mission is to curate a high-quality, multilingual arts programme that brings children, families, and artists together to share stories and cultures. Positioned as a social catalyst, the festival fosters intercultural exchange, strengthens community ties, and nurtures a powerful sense of belonging.
With inclusivity at its core, MTFest showcases the work of migrant and multilingual artists, with the majority of its multidisciplinary programme presented in languages other than English. Families and wider audiences can engage in an array of artistic experiences, including theatre, music, literature, visual arts and participatory workshops. Through both national and international partnerships, MTFest continues to connect Irish audiences with global perspectives, celebrating language, identity, and creativity in all its forms.
The 2027 edition marks our landmark 10th Anniversary, taking place on 19–20 February 2027 in Tallaght, Dublin.
The 2027 theme: "We Are Home"
This year’s festival is woven together by the central theme “We Are Home.” For multilingual families, migrant communities and children growing up between cultures, “home” is not simply a physical place. It is an emotional space created collectively through language, creativity, care and participation. Hearing one’s language spoken, sharing stories, and participating creatively generates a powerful sense of belonging and emotional safety. MTFest27 positions art as a social meeting place where identities are expressed, differences are celebrated, and communities are invited to imagine new forms of togetherness. As one parent beautifully reflected:
It sounds like an important model to remove the fear and enjoy being together through creativity and play, and having your language heard and spoken so you can feel secure and at home.
The commission & creative brief
We are seeking an illustrator based in Ireland to create the lead signature image for Mother Tongues Festival 2027.
The successful illustration must capture the spirit of the Festival, the “We Are Home” theme, and our core missions:
- Using language as a theme to explore identity through the arts.
- Challenging assumptions about minority cultures and fighting stereotypes.
- Fostering unity and curiosity in a family-friendly, child-centred aesthetic.
- Note on Visual Metaphors: We explicitly want to steer away from the use of national flags or traditional border concepts, as they tend to create barriers rather than unity. Instead, we encourage metaphors of connection, shared spaces, play, and emotional warmth.
Technical deliverables:
The selected artist will be required to deliver a versatile illustration that can be adapted across print and digital media:
- Print Formats: Portrait orientation (scalable up to A0 size) for posters, flyers, and the festival brochure.
- Digital Formats: Landscape orientation (1,200 pixels wide, 16:9 aspect ratio) optimised as a hero image for our website and Facebook cover.
Timeline & process:
- Mid-September: Selection of the artist.
- Mid-October: Artist presents 3 initial sketched concepts for feedback.
- Late October: Development of the chosen, fully colored illustration.
- 20th November 2026: Final delivery of all assets.
Who we are looking for
This commission is open to professional and emerging illustrators currently based in Ireland.
True to the core mission of the Mother Tongues Festival, we aim to elevate voices that reflect the diverse, multicultural reality of contemporary Ireland. For this specific commission, we strongly encourage applications from international artists based in Ireland, second-generation artists and illustrators from culturally diverse, migrant, or minoritised backgrounds. We value lived experience of navigating multiple cultures and languages, and we welcome applications from artists whose unique perspectives can authentically reflect the festival’s ethos of global belonging and intercultural home-making.
How to apply
To apply, please submit the following in a single PDF document to festival@mothertongues.ie with the subject line “MTFest27 Illustrator Application”:
- Short Expression of Interest (Max 300 words): Tell us briefly about yourself, your artistic practice and how your style and lived perspective align with the theme “We Are Home.”
- Portfolio/Examples of Work: 3–5 relevant examples of your illustration work
- Links to a website, social media or online portfolio.
Closing date for applications: 13th September 2026.
For any inquiries regarding accessibility or the brief, please contact festival@mothertongues.ie
Since its founding in 2018, Mother Tongues Festival has been at the forefront of using the arts to help families embrace their mother tongue and strengthen their cultural and linguistic identities. By joining us, you’ll not only share your artistry but also contribute to a festival that builds connections, nurtures belonging, and celebrates the many languages and cultures that shape Ireland today.
