Kilkenny County Council, in partnership with Wexford, Waterford, Carlow and Wicklow County Councils, and the Arts Council of Ireland are currently supporting the research and pre-development phase of the formation of a South East Professional Development Forum for artists of all disciplines. This seeks to provide an accessible professional development service to artists in the area. Recognising that the arts services in every local authority throughout the country have evolved in different ways and have different areas of specialisation, the project seeks to capitalise on the cumulative experience and expertise of local authority arts services in the region to create professional development opportunities for artists in the South East.
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Exchange Day for Artists - An opportunity for artists of all disciplines in the South East to contribute to the establishment of their own Professional Development Forum
On Saturday, 6th May, artists of all disciplines in the South East will come together for an Exchange Day in the Parade Tower, Kilkenny, as a key part of current research into setting up a Professional Development Forum for artists in the South East. This research has been commissioned by five local authority arts offices - Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford (county), Wexford and Wicklow - with the support of the Arts Council.
A line-up of eminent artists of different disciplines from around the country and abroad, comprising composer, Ian Wilson, traditional musician, Fintan Vallely, novelist, Sean Hardie, playwright and performer, Michelle Read, theatre director Jim Culleton, dancer and choreographer, Cathy O’Kennedy, filmmaker and digital artist, Nicky Gogan, and Wales-based public artist, Brenda Oakes, will talk about their own professional development as a means of generating thought and discussion among artists. The opening address will be given by John Gerrard who since first graduating less than ten years ago has received international acclaim for his work with new media. Thematic sessions based on ‘working in context’, ‘working in partnership’, ‘artist-led initiatives’ and ‘working on an international level’ will facilitate further dialogue. Eve O’Kelly, Director of the Contemporary Music Centre will lead the closing, plenary discussion.
There will also be opportunities for networking and information exchange whereby artists are invited to bring along information on themselves and their work and a resource of relevant publications will be available. Feedback to the content of the day will inform a strategy for the formation of the Professional Development Forum.
According to Mary Grehan, who is carrying out the research and co-ordinating the Exchange Day, ‘An artists’ career is not a typical one. It can be isolated, lonely and entirely self-directed. Artists need skills, knowledge and support not just in making their work, but in finding their audience. The challenge will be to develop a Forum which is responsive to the highly individual needs of artists while linking in with various arts infrastructures at county level. We hope that this Exchange Day will give us an insight into the developmental needs of artists in the region.’
The event is free. Places are limited and early advance booking is essential. Booking forms will be available on 3rd April from the Arts Office, No. 72, John Street, Kilkenny, T: 056 7794138, E: niamh.finn@kilkennycoco.ie
For further information, contact:
Kilkenny Arts Office, T: 056 7794138, E: niamh.finn@kilkennycoco.ie
Or Mary Grehan at : grehanm@gofree.indigo.ie or 086 3703537.
Completed booking forms must be returned to Ann Brazil, Wexford Arts Office, Wexford County Council, County Hall, Wexford, before 21st April.
