VAI News
![[Top]: Once Upon a Time in a Cinema; image courtesy of the Dublin International Film Festival. [Bottom L-R]: Image courtesy of and © the Dublin International Film Festival.](https://ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/JnptkctFJ6VUFOYMrB-iG3qeF_0lw17WwFyRhPNHiVYj8ni3SfBb4WTw4FOBPVxw_WSMWGxid9gb5wBKsbwHinIN5Io-qTyfYseHSoH_6jHY0K7RoqcR4RJLvqmndn1Rlg-RIw=s0-d-e1-ft#https://visualartists.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/miniVAN-promo-15_1-scaled.jpg) |
In the first instalment of our two-part special series on the 2026 Dublin International Film Festival, miniVAN Commissioning Editor Thomas Pool reports on the opening night of the Dublin International Film Festival 2026 and reviews the world premiere of ‘Once Upon a Time in a Cinema’, exclusively for Visual Artists Ireland!
Stay tuned for Part II, with more in-depth coverage of this year’s festival, in the beginning of March.
Check it out now by clicking here!
The miniVAN is the online magazine published by Visual Artists Ireland. With uniquely commissioned content, The miniVAN explores the visual arts with an accessible view of all aspects of careers and practice that make up our visual community.
[Image] [Top]: Once Upon a Time in a Cinema; image courtesy of the Dublin International Film Festival. [Bottom L-R]: Image courtesy of and © the Dublin International Film Festival.
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From Royal Hibernian Academy
Thursday February 12th 2026
The Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts is delighted to announce that artists Eileen Leonard Sealy and Daniel Coleman have been awarded the Hennessy Craig Award 2026 and artists Manar Mervat Al Shouha and Conor O’Connell have been awarded the Homan Potterton Award, 2026. Both awards, the largest awards for painters in Ireland, were announced at a ceremony held at the RHA Gallery, on Thursday 12 February.
The Hennessy Craig/Potterton jury selected five artists, from both the 2024 and 2025 Annual Exhibitions, who were invited to submit two new works, currently showing at the RHA until 29 March.
Since 2002, the Hennessy Craig Award has recognised exceptional talent among painters under the age of thirty-five who have studied at a recognised art college on the island of Ireland and exhibited in the open submission section of the Academy’s Annual Exhibition. Introduced in 2024, the Homan Potterton Prize was established through a generous bequest from the late Homan Potterton, former Director of the National Gallery of Ireland and one of the country’s foremost art historians. The prize honours a painter under thirty-five whose work reflects the enduring traditions of figurative or landscape painting.
This year, the Hennessy Craig / Potterton jury has selected artists from both the 2024 and 2025 Annual Exhibitions. Each shortlisted artist has been invited to present two new works for this exhibition, with the final awards reflecting the artist’s overall practice.
2026 Shortlisted artists:
Maya Brezing · Mantas Poderys · Matthew Stickland · Liam Murray · Salvatore of Lucan · Owen de Forge · Manar Mervat Al Shouha · Eileen Leonard Sealy · Conor O’Connell · Daniel Coleman
The jurors would like to congratulate this group of artists on the exceptional quality of their work and for maintaining such uncompromising artistic integrity. In the contemporary art world, competing for awards is a strategy that extends beyond the pursuit of the award – it serves as a vital process for professional validation. It enables artists to engage in dialogue on why painting never loses its relevance. It transforms art practice from being a solitary pursuit into a dynamic, collective experience.
The standard was so high that the jury had great difficulty in selecting a single winner for each award and decided make joint awards for both categories.
The Hennessy Craig Award 2026, €20,000 – Bequest of the estate of Patrick Hennessy and Henry Robertson Craig. Awarded to: Eileen Leonard Sealy, Daniel Coleman, €10,000 each
The Homan Potterton Prize 2026, €20,000 – Bequest of the estate of Homan Potterton. Awarded to: Manar Mervat Al Shouha, Conor O’Connell, €10,000 each
These four artists, while different in their aesthetic and conceptual concerns, collectively demonstrate the enduring relevance of contemporary figurative painting. They each, in their unique way, push the boundaries of representation, inviting viewers to engage with questions about loss, identity, historic references and the human condition.
This exhibition presents a rare opportunity to experience – and for discerning collectors, to acquire – the finest work from Ireland’s most exciting new generation of painters.
For more information, click here.
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Job Vacancies
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The Council is seeking applications from suitably qualified candidates with relevant experience for the position of Assistant Arts Officer. The initial post to fill is permanent Assistant Arts Officer; however, if a panel is formed it may fill any permanent or temporary post that may arise during the lifetime of the panel.
Click here for more information and to apply
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The GAFF is seeking to appoint a Director to lead the company’s artistic programme and the next phase of its development, managing from the company’s new base in Limerick city.
The successful candidate will have a good overview of socially-engaged arts practice across Ireland and a strong track record of working collaboratively with artists, cultural organisations and funding bodies.
Click here for more information and to apply
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Opportunities Ireland
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Submissions are open for the next print edition of Ethereal. We’re accepting poetry, flash fiction, non-fiction, academic essays, photography, illustration and scanned artwork. Themes include: Digital Druid, Techno Pagan, Celtic Computing, Divine Machinery, Ghost in the Machine, Tech in the Ether, and Dindshenchas.
Click here for more information and to apply
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Artists, teachers, academics and arts education professionals… Would you like to be part of the Portal Spring Regional Day? The Arts in Education Portal Team is seeking submissions for presentations and creative workshops which will take place on Saturday 25 April at the Garage Theatre, Monaghan.
We are inviting proposals from organisations or individuals involved in arts in education from Monaghan, Cavan, Louth, Meath and Westmeath or Shared Island Initiatives.
The programme includes two project presentations with a fee of €250 and two creative workshops with a fee of €425.
Click here for more information and to apply
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The Exhibition Open Call provides emerging and under-recognised artists with the opportunity and resources to present an exhibition at the Artlink in 2027. The programme is open to visual artists – both individuals and collectives – working across all fine art media. Proposals should demonstrate how the artist intends to challenge and test their practice, and how the work is relevant to this place. Exhibitions take place in the Saldanha Gallery, Fort Dunree.
Click here for more information and to apply
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As part of our research for future issues, Source will be organising Zoom meetings with photographers to look at new photographic work. Each meeting will provide an opportunity to directly introduce new work to one of Source’s editors. These meetings are one way that Source finds new work to publish in the ‘Portfolio’ section of the magazine.
This opportunity is open to photographers from or based in Ireland or the UK. There is no submission fee. The deadline for submissions is 27 February 2026, at 4.00 pm.
Click here for more information and to apply
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Kildare County Council Arts Service invites applications to the Emerging Visual Artist Solo Exhibition Bursary Award 2026, in partnership with Riverbank Arts Centre. The Emerging Visual Artist Solo Exhibition Bursary Award is open to Visual Art students due to graduate in summer 2026, and other emerging visual artists, who can demonstrate a commitment to the development of an artistic practice or who are in the process of creating a significant body of work.
Click here for more information and to apply
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Opportunities International
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Basel invites illustrators from every country to take part in this international comic competition on the theme “Freundschaft – Friendship – Amicizia – Amitié”.
The 20 selected works will be presented in May 2026 as flags on Basel’s Mittlere Brücke and will also be shown in an exhibition designed by the Cartoonmuseum Basel – Centre for Narrative Art at FANTASY BASEL – The Swiss Comic Con, where they will be presented to a large audience.
The submission deadline is 15 March 2026.
Click here for more information and to apply
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The Estonian National Museum’s photo archive, ranging from glass negatives to digital images, is open to researchers. Four residents will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in our photo archive over a six-month period and, as a result of their work, co-create a joint exhibition in ERM’s temporary exhibition hall (742 sqm), open from 25 November 2026 to 4 July 2027.
Support: €10,000 per resident, accommodation and transport during the co-creation and installation period, exhibition production team and production costs
Click here for more information and to apply
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Residencies
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The Summer Professional Residency offers established artists and ceramicists 3-month’s in a state-of-the-art ceramics studio to complete a specific project or create space for dedicated studio research time. Our Summer Professional Residency Opens from 19th February 2026. Please read through our Application Guide to check if you are eligible to apply.
Click here for more information and to apply
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‘La Devignère’ announces its summer residency period for 2026!
We will be open to writers, artists and researchers of all disciplines needing time and space for writing, reflection and research. Each artist/writer will be provided with a large comfortable private living and working space in a peaceful environment.
Click here for more information and to apply
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Commissions
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Roscommon Arts Office now invites submissions from artists for an original public artwork for the new Boyle Community Library. Proposals for outdoor and/or indoor permanent artworks are welcomed which may incorporate other artforms such as literature, film, music etc. The proposal may be / or have elements that are tactile or interactive.
This is a one-stage, open themed process.
Overall commission budget is €36,000.00, including VAT.
Submissions and queries to msm...@roscommoncoco.ie.
Funded by the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
Click here for more information and to apply
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Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) invites visual artists to submit proposals for a site-specific artwork that will accompany the forthcoming Oranmore rail infrastructure upgrade. The project—comprising a new 185 metre platform, a one-kilometre double-track passing loop, an under-pass with step-free access, a dedicated cycle route and a range of passenger-amenities—offers a unique canvas on which to celebrate the town’s heritage, its evolving identity and its role as a gateway to the wider Iarnród Éireann network.
Information Session: Artists will have the opportunity to attend an online Information Session will take place on Wednesday 28th January from 14.00hrs to 14.45hrs. We will be joined by project managers for Oranmore and representatives from the Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail Design Team who will be available to answer questions.
Please register to attend the Information Session by emailing ar...@irishrail.ie. Attending the Information Session is not a requirement; queries can also be submitted by email to the same address.
Click here for more information and to apply
To view call through Irish please click here
Additional detailed information is available at the following links: FAQ Document, Info Session Presentation for Interested Artists, Topographical Survey of Existing Station, Infrastructure Manager Safety Standard, Model Fly Through of Design, Proposed Design in CAD, High Quality Images to Download
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Wexford County Council’s Arts Office, in partnership with Creative Ireland, invites applications from visual artists to develop a new body of work which explores Wexford’s Anglo-Norman heritage and legacy.
The art commission is socially engaged in nature and will involve the artist undergoing research and working with local communities in Wexford County in the development of the work over a 16-month period (May 2026-August 2027).
Click here for more information and to apply
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Louth County Council is commissioning 3 Artist in Residence projects as part of its Public Art Programme 2025-2027.
Each Artist in Residence project has a commission value of €100,000 incl all VAT and expenses.
Click here for more information and to apply
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Funding / Awards
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The Agility Award supports individual professional artists and arts practitioners who have not been previously funded as an individual by the Arts Council. It focuses on enabling artists to develop their practice, develop their work and develop their skills.
Applications open on March 3rd.
Click here for more information and to apply
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We are pleased to announce a new grant to support the activity of medium to large amateur and voluntary performing arts groups in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. Funding is for the period July to December 2026. This grant is open to musical theatre, theatre, dance, choirs, circus, spectacle, opera, music and vocal ensembles. Groups must be community/volunteer led and have an annual turnover of €6,000 or more.
Applications can be made on our online grants portal. Please read all the information about the Grant before applying, to make sure that your group is eligible for this funding.
Click here for more information and to apply
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The Friends of the F.E. McWilliam Gallery & Studio invite professional visual artists born in, or resident in, Northern Ireland, to apply for a two-week residency at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Co. Monaghan. The Bursary covers 2 weeks’ full board accommodation in the Big House, use of a studio and 250 Euro/£200 expenses. The bursary is open to professional artists in all visual arts disciplines. There is no age limit.
Click here for more information and to apply
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Workshops
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A one day workshop in Oil portraiture from life with artist Bríd Higgins Ní Chinnéide.
Delve into the nuances of oil painting from life under expert guidance. A comprehensive exploration of the medium with a dedicated focus on the portrait, this is a unique opportunity to sharpen your practice while allowing your personal style to emerge.
Working directly from a live model, you’ll develop your observational skills and understanding of colour, proportion, and form. Bríd will guide you through the process of capturing the essence and character, from initial sketches to detailed oil paintings.
Click here for more information and to book
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‘I invite artists of all levels to explore a wide range of drawing techniques in charcoal using mainly
photos as source material. My classes are designed to encourage and support the act of looking and
drawing in an enjoyable, easy-going and informal manner.’ Michael Wann
The course takes place in Artform modern light-filled seaside studio with 24hr access for each visiting artist.
Click here for more information and to book
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A one day, intensive workshop in abstract painting led by artist Helen McCusker to help you work from intuition instead of expectation.
During this comprehensive exploration of abstract techniques, you will learn to move your attention out of the head and into the body, developing a personal library of marks and textures.
This high-energy, low-pressure day empowers you to slow down, let go of control, and use curiosity and play as your primary creative tools. Ideal for those looking to move away from representational images, this workshop is designed to empower you to explore curiosity and play as primary creative tools.
Click here for more information and to book
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Julie proposes a 3 day, immersive course with a strong emphasis on play and process through drawing, collage and painting, working on a variety of surfaces, loosely based on Dunmore East costal landscape or other reference material. Of particular benefit to artists returning to a practice after a break; artists looking to develop, explore or expand their visual language around abstraction or those who simply wish to explore painting and drawing for the first time. The course takes place in Artform modern seaside studio with 24hr access for each visiting artist.
Click here for more information and to book
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Over the course of three days, participants will be introduced to the fundamentals of Ciara’s ‘Thread Drawing’ techniques: a combination of free motion embroidery, hand stitch and raw-edged appliqué. Through a series of practical demonstrations, she will walk you through her process and arm you with the knowledge to begin your own stitchery journey. The course takes place in Artform modern seaside studio with 24hr access for each visiting artist.
Click here for more information and to book
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FULL PROGRAM OF COURSES 2026 BY ARTFORM IS AVAILABLE ON ARTFORM.IE.
Artform School of Art offers residential artist-led seaside art courses in the beautiful coastal village of Dunmore East, Co. Waterford for all skill levels in a variety of styles and media, hosted by some of Irish leading artists, and taking place in Artform light-filled seaside studio with 24hr access for each artist. We hold open call competitions, exhibitions, art events and artist residencies. To find out more, get in touch or visit us in Dunmore East.
Click here for more information and to book
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Join award-winning Irish artist Gabhann Dunne for a one-day painting workshop exploring movement and gesture through expressive brushwork. Using examples from his work including studies of a bird in flight and a wolf in motion, participants will learn how to convey energy and rhythm through paint. Working in acrylic or oil the workshop covers gesture-led painting, colour mixing, mediums and wet-on-wet techniques.
Date: Saturday, 28 February
Time: 10am-5pm
Location: Education Wing, Hunt Museum
Admission: €95 per person or €75 for Friends of the Hunt Museum Members
Click here for more information and to book
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Learn about materials, basic brushstrokes and techniques used for painting grasses, flowers, trees and more in this live online workshop for beginners. Sumi-e: Japanese Black Ink Painting is a unique art form using only black ink, handmade paper and a special brush.
This workshop may also be sent as a gift. (Tick ‘send as gift’ box when booking.)
Tutor: Karen Colbert MFA, VAI Member
Click here for more information and to book
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Ready to embrace more risk taking in your existing painting practice? In this online course we will explore gestural & expressive painting techniques that will suggest fruitful new directions for you to explore. Topics covered include – how to identify subject matter; applying collage methods with a painterly approach; looking at examples of historical and also contemporary artworks and thinking about your own influences and reference points.
Click here for more information and to book
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This Board Governance training workshop is tailored towards artists, creatives and arts workers who are new or existing board members looking to strengthen their role on the Board.
Click here for more information
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This workshop is for artists, creatives and arts workers — freelance or employed — at any stage of their career in Ireland’s creative sector.
An engaging, interactive session exploring LGBTQIA+ identities, language and allyship. We create a supportive space for open questions and practical learning, highlighting how small shifts in practice, policy and everyday behaviours can make a big difference for LGBTQIA+ colleagues, collaborators and audiences.
Click here for more information
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This workshop focuses on painting street scenes and urban settings. Guided by Kasper, you’ll learn how to simplify complex cityscapes by breaking down shapes, perspective, and values. Through a three-part demonstration, Kasper will show each stage of his process and support you as you apply it to your own work. Daily value studies act as a clear roadmap for the final painting.
Click here for more information and to book
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In this workshop we will be learning how to tackle an interior scene in watercolour. Kasper will show how to effectively paint the incoming glow of light from the window and with splatter technique creating various light effects.
The workshop will be based on a three-part demonstration where Kasper will show his technique, and after each part, he will assist the students along the way.
Click here for more information and to book
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This workshop offers the opportunity to sculpt a human figure from life in clay. Participants will learn key processes including pose selection, armature building, basic anatomy, measuring, materials handling, surface finishing, and drapery. You’ll complete a two-fifths life-size clay figure to photograph or take home. All levels welcome, though some observational experience will be beneficial.
Click here for more information and to book
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TUTOR: Stephanie Sloan (B.Des. NCAD, MA Printed Textiles RCA)
LEVEL: Beginner/intermediate
An introduction to screen printing on fabric in the garden studio of printmaker Stephanie Sloan.
Using the photo emulsion technique, learn how to create a stencil, coat a screen, use a UV exposure unit and experiment with printing your own design on fabric. Max of 4 participants allows for individual development with all print materials including tote bags and tea towels provided.
Click here for more information and to book
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This “Understanding Colour” workshop builds confidence in using colour expressively. Through theory, practical exercises, and intuitive exploration, you’ll learn colour relationships, design principles, and how colour creates emotional impact. Working in acrylic, you’ll gain skills that translate to any medium. Open to beginners and experienced artists, the workshop offers a supportive space to explore and experiment with colour.
Click here for more information and to book
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Strong drawing is the foundation of successful artwork. This workshop focuses on building confident drawing skills through foundational techniques and enjoyable practice. You’ll explore shading, depth, perspective, and building form from simple shapes to more complex structures, while experimenting with pencil, colour, and materials. Designed to inspire creativity and enjoyment, this workshop is suitable and recommended for artists of all levels.
Click here for more information and to book
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Explore the expressive potential of charcoal in this two-day workshop with Sorca. Through demonstrations and guided practice, you’ll learn how texture, tone, and layered mark-making create depth and atmosphere. Working from simple landscape references, you’ll develop sketches into a finished drawing with individual support. Suitable for all levels, this workshop builds confidence and personal expression in charcoal.
Click here for more information and to book
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In this portrait painting workshop, Jade guides you through creating a single portrait using a layered process rooted in traditional technique with a contemporary finish. Starting with a fast-drying acrylic underlayer, you’ll explore imprimatura, tonal values, colour mixing, and refined oil painting through step-by-step demos. Suitable for beginners and experienced painters looking to develop portrait skills with classical methods and modern materials.
Click here for more information and to book
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Our Monday and Tuesday evening Drawing & Painting classes offer a relaxed, welcoming way to build your practice at any level. Use your 8 passes on any Monday/Tuesday (18:00–20:45). Work in a collective, supportive atmosphere while following your own artistic goals with 1:1 guidance and group demonstrations from Eoin. Develop skills or a portfolio at your own pace in portraiture, landscape, figure, or abstraction, all within our beautiful, light-filled French-style studio. Join right away or sign up for Spring Term commencing April 27th.
Click here for more information and to book
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Our weekly Drawing & Painting classes are welcoming, flexible, and suitable for all levels—from complete beginners to advanced artists. Join at any time and work at your own pace in a supportive studio environment with tailored 1:1 guidance and group demonstrations by Eoin. Use your 12 hours of studio time across Wednesdays and/or Saturdays over four weeks. Explore drawing or oil painting, portraiture, figure, landscape, or personal projects in our beautiful, light-filled French-style studio, with easels provided.
Click here for more information and to book
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Running year-round, this 8-day course is ideal for beginners, those returning to art or experienced artists seeking focused studio time to develop a body of work. Tuition is fully bespoke, allowing you to work at your own pace and follow your interests with one-to-one guidance. Early sessions cover classical and contemporary foundations before you choose your own direction. Classes take place in a beautiful, light-filled French-style studio. All students are provided with their own easel.
Click here for more information and to book
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In this two-part workshop held on the 11th and 25th of April, participants will be guided through ways in which to create artist statements and accompanying texts.
Led by writer and editor Aidan Kelly Murphy, these workshops will look to provide support in developing writing that succinctly discusses individual projects and wider practices. More details below.
Click here for more information and to book
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This workshop, reflecting aspects of her own art practice, will explore creating through tufting. Wool tufting entails passing varied lengths of wool through canvas, either with a punch needle or tufting gun, resulting in a carpeted textile art form.
During this two-day workshop, you will have the chance to learn the basics of punch needling, try out different tufting techniques and styles, and experience using a machine tufting gun.
You will leave the workshop with your own hand-needled, punched textile work and square patch samples made from the tufting gun. Materials are included.
Click here for more information and to book
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Join artist David Begley for an exciting day of monotype printmaking. A monotype is a unique, one of a kind, handmade print, created by drawing or painting an image onto a plate and transferring this to paper.
In this workshop participants will develop their own approach to this spontaneous, painterly medium, creating several monotype prints. We will explore monochrome mark-making exercises, work with wipe-out, direct painting, and tonking to make prints. This workshop is suitable for professional artists as well as beginners. Materials supplied. Please bring an apron!
Click here for more information and to book
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Join me on Irelands southern most island, Oileán Chléire, for a three day workshop. Spend a long weekend with a group of like minded people firing up to 15 of your pots in four different firings; soda, mini soda, fast fire wood, and barrels.
Over the weekend you’ll gain an in-depth understanding of how these different kilns and firing methods work, and will leave with the knowledge to be able to build and fire your own kilns. You’ll also work together to fire the fast fired wood kiln.
We’ll also have a sauna and sea dip with Jen and make bees wax hand balms with Sam, both locals here on the island.
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This workshop is suitable for those new to the medium or those looking to refresh. We will cover wide range of technical & intuitive processes: surface preparation; indepth additive & subtractive techniques; compatible media; photographic transfer &collage. There will be a focus on creating history, optical depth & visual complexity thro a combination of mark making, layering, scraping and the use of translucency & opacity
With exercises, prompts, demos, writing & plenty of painting time, this caters for mixed level of experience thro individual support. All materials included
For more information and to book please contact: joa...@joannakidney.com
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Studios
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One of our private workspaces will be available from Monday 16th March.
We are accepting applications until Monday 9th March.
We encourage anyone that is interested in making an application to visit our website and read about our studio, membership structure and supports offered.
Studio artists have access to a wider range of facilities including:
- Large Build Workshop
- Ceramics Area
- Print Area
- Electronics Area
- Textiles Area
- Darkroom
- Quiet Room & Small Library
Price: €200 per month
Click here for more information and to apply
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For Sale / Wanted / Other
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Exhibition/Gallery/Craft Fair Acrylic Display Items For Sale.
All Items in excellent condition with very little use – from Artist’s long term storage.
Please see pics. for prices in GBP – Lots may be sold separately – Buyer Collects.
For more information please contact Elin Johnston at elinjc...@gmail.com
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SDCC Arts Office is surveying artists to understand workspace needs, identify existing resources, and highlight gaps. Artists of all disciplines living in South Dublin County are invited to take part. Findings will inform the new 2026 Arts Strategy.
Survey: https://forms.office.com/e/he5gRkCAyA
Deadline: Friday 20 March 2026, 12pm
For more information please contact Richie O’Sullivan, Assistant Arts Officer at richieo...@sdublincoco.ie
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We recommend that you check all eligibility criteria carefully. As the All Ireland representative body we aim to advertise opportunities available to all artists. But with new restrictions, some opportunities may only be available to artists in the Republic of Ireland, the EU or specifically in Northern Ireland or the UK.
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International Memberships
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