A group of talented textile and ceramic artists who recently graduated from GMIT have joined forces to set up a new art studio enterprise in Galway city.
Assisted by two of their GMIT lecturers, the young artists have pooled their resources to set up a new business enterprise called GroundWorks Studios in the Lyrr Buildings, Mervue Business Park. The new studio and workshop will be formally opened tomorrow, with the launch of a special exhibition of their work at 4pm.
The artists and designers will use this platform to create works for the fashion, interiors, and fine art craft sectors. They will share facilities, pool ideas and resources, and jointly market and promote their work. They will also facilitate classes and workshops for the wider community. The studio will provide space for emerging ceramic and textile artists while maintaining strong links with GMIT’s Creative Arts Department in the nearby Cluain Mhuire campus.
The idea for the new graduate enterprise came about when two GMIT lecturers Rob D’Eath, lecturer in ceramics, and Jackie King, lecturer in textiles, recognised the need for a bridging facility between education and their future practice-based careers on completion of their art degrees.
“Many of our graduates came to us last March expressing a desire to set up an enterprise in the applied arts. They were very successful in a recent London exhibition and other national shows, and have since been getting numerous commissions but have nowhere to work from,” says King, adding: “We encouraged and mentored them to work collectively on developing this new studio space and enterprise hub which has so many benefits, not least sharing costs but also developing their artistic and entrepreneurial ambitions.”
It is envisaged that this new graduate enterprise GroundWorks Studios, will be a centre for creative excellence in the applied arts, contributing significantly to the development of social, educational and economic opportunities in the city and county. The new studio will have space for up to 20 individual artists, with workshops for print, weave, and ceramic disciplines. A special exhibition of the artists and designers’ work will mark the opening of the new GroundWorks Studios tomorrow at 4pm.
The exhibition will run until Sunday December 13. For further information contact Emer Hughes on 087 4172029.
